In Pursuit of Happiness...Through Forgiveness

Psalm 32:title–5 NASB95

A Psalm of David. A Maskil. 1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

Psalm 32:6–7 NASB95

6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

The Abundant Joy in Forgiveness

Who can have abundant joy and happiness? What does it look like? (Status)

3 pictures of sin and forgiveness (v 1-2)

The burden of going out of bounds… Lifted and carried away

The stain of not reaching the goal… Covered up

The guiltiness of it all… Regarded as innocence

How did I reach this level of joy and happiness? How do I know? (Process)

My miserable experience (v 3-4) - wasting away, groaning all day, and strength drained

Because I refused to admit my sin to GOD

GOD allowed heavy circumstances

The changes I had to make (v 5)

Acknowledge… failure to reach goal, stop hiding… guiltiness, and be determined to confess… out of bounds

GOD forgave my guilt (v 5)

GOD surrounds me with praise (v 7)