Psalm 32 – Blessed Are the Forgiven

1. Read: Psalm 32:1-2

2. About the Text:

1) God pronounces a blessing upon those who are forgiven.

2) Forgiveness is not without responsibility on our part.

3) We don’t get the blessings unless we make the changes in our lives.

4) This Psalm affirms the relationship between being blessed and being responsible by asking for forgiveness.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Several words are used for “forgiveness.”

1) Forgiven – This is the Hebrew word nâsâ It means to lift, take, or carry away.

2) Covered – This is the Hebrew word kâçâh. It means to cover, hide, or conceal.

3) Does not impute – This is the Hebrew word châshab – to count or take account.

2. It is YHWH who forgives (2).

1) If God forgives, the sin is forever and irrevocably forgiven.

2) “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

3) “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

3. God only forgives those who are sincere in asking.

1) One’s spirit must not have deceit.

2) To ask for forgiveness while intending to sin again is not sincere, but deceitful.

4. These verses are introductory.

1) They set forth the fact of a forgiven person being blessed.

2) The rest of the Psalm explains more how the forgiven person is blessed.

1. The Psalmist contemplates the time before confession.

1) His bones grew old. He groaned all day long.

2) God’s hand was heavy on him.

3) His vitality was dry.

4) “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity” (Acts 8:23).

2. Sin destroys us from within.

1) This is all to say that guilt of sin has a way of sapping us of our strength.

2) It eats at our soul and takes away our abilities.

3) Guilt becomes worry, anxiety, and fear.

4) “The wicked flee when no one pursues” (Proverbs 28:1a).

3. The Psalmist discusses confession of sin.

1) It is an acknowledgment.

2) It is a revealing. It is verbal.

3) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

1. The godly pray.

1) It is godly to pray.

2) “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear” (Hebrews 5:7).

3) What is the time when God may be found? – At all times.

4) “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27).

5) “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

2. God delivers.

1) The flood of great waters will not come near the godly.

2) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2).

3) God is the godly’s hiding place: it is where they go when they have nowhere else.

4) God saves from trouble.

5) God surrounds with songs of deliverance.

6) “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9).

1. God instructs those who ask for forgiveness.

1) When we pray for forgiveness, we learn what is wrong with us.

2) We learn the right way to go.

3) God guides us with His eye, His vision.

4) This is so important to live a blessed life.

5) “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray” (Proverbs 10:17).

2. For those who do not ask for forgiveness.

1) They are warned not to be like the horse or mule.

2) They have no understanding.

3) They must be harnessed – only one way to learn, by force.

4) “Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored” (Proverbs 13:18).

1. The wicked who do not confess their sins.

1) They have many sorrows.

2) They will not have mercy.

2. For the one who does confess his sin.

1) He trusts in the Lord.

2) Mercy will surround him.

3) He can be glad in the Lord; He can rejoice.

4) He is righteous and upright in heart.

5) He will shout for joy.

6) “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7)

1. The forgiven are blessed because…

1) God Covers Them.

2) They Confess Their Sins.

3) God Carries Them.

4) They Accept Criticism.

5) They are Cheerful.

2. Invitation