Confession: The Freedom of Forgiveness

Lady Macbeth:Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!—One; two: why, then ’tis time to do't.—Hell is murky.—Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?

Lady Macbeth is tormented by the guilt that she feels over her part in the conspiracy to kill. She sleep walks – deliriously trying to rid her hands of the blood of her victim, revealing the guilt that stains her soul.

In a similar story, but with a far different ending, we discover King David dealing with guilt in a far different way (2 Samuel 11-12). King David was a husband, father, ruler and military leader, and yet at one point in time, he chose to neglect and jeopardize all of that for one night of pleasure. You see he committed adultery with the wife of one of his soldiers, while he should have been at war. When he discovered that she had conceived a child, he sent for her husband in hopes that he would sleep with her and David’s sin would be hidden – but to no avail. Uriah, the warrior husband, was such an upstanding man that even when drunk, he would not sleep in any different fashion than his troops, so he slept outside.

David then arranged for Uriah to be sent back to the front lines and arranged the worst possible military strategy – he had his troops fall back in order to cause Uriah to die at the attack of the enemy. David’s soul was guilty of adultery and murder. And for several months, he lived with this guilt – until he was confronted by Nathan the prophet. It was in response to Nathan’s rebuke that we get to see who helpful Psalms.

Psalm 51 reveals David’s heartfelt confession to God. (read vs. 1-12) According to Warren Wiersbe, in…

Psalm 32 David takes the next step – in revealing the freedom that comes from forgiveness.

Today, as we conclude our series in spiritual disciplines, we’re going to look at the first several verses of Psalm 32 in order to glean some truths about sin, confession, and forgiveness as we reflect on the discipline of confession and the freedom we find in forgiveness.

David begins by sharing a foundational truth. He shares the…

Principle of being cleansed (1-2)

Verses 1-2 in the English Standard Version read:

Psalm 32:1–2 (ESV)

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

There is a basic truth that David points out in the opening verses of the Psalm – there is freedom in forgiveness.

He begins with this word “blessed.” The New Living Translation renders this “Oh what joy.” Charles Swindoll in his teaching on the be attitudes which all begin with the word “blessed” says, “Oh the happiness many times over.”

This is more than just a temporary feeling of elation, but it’s a joy, a release. Imagine the feeling of being convicted of a serious crime and then being freed – record is wiped clean. That’s the freedom that David is getting at here.

In fact, in the original language – the word that we read as transgression can also be rendered “crime” or “rebellion.” You see, David’s sin was a willful act of rebellion. He did not accidentally fall into an affair with Bathsheba – he was, as James says, “drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.” (James 1:14)

“Oh what a joy that comes when someone’s rebellion is forgiven, when their sin is covered.”

David continues this opening by adding, that in forgiveness – no iniquity is counted against them – there is no sin debt. Beyond that, there is no internal hiding or deception.

Can you imagine the façade that David must have erected in his life in order to justify his actions with Bathsheba and Uriah? How many people must have known, and yet, he only sought to hid it – even from himself.

what about you? Have you experienced the joy, the peace of knowing your sins are forgiven? In two weeks we are going to celebrate the event that atoned for the sin of all humanity - Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. He took the guilt, the eternal punishment of our sin on himself. Have you repented and believed and then responded with baptism?

After he lays out this underlying freedom principle, David relays his…

Personal Experience (3-5)

Psalm 32:3–4 ESV

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

What a powerful image this is – David is essentially saying that he was decaying from within because of the guilt that was eating him up. This may have been just the emotional weight of the guilt. That gnawing pain in his gut or fatigue brought on by that inward battle. Just as our bodies become more brittle and fragile with age, so too it seems that unconfessed sin has a sort of aging effect in our lives - bones wasting away, strength sapped.

Some time ago there was a man named Bernie Madoff. He and his wife had engaged in deceptive Ponzi scheme that defrauded people of billions of dollars. It was said that when the truth finally came out, that Bernie and his wife attempted to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. The years of hiding and covering his deception was catching up to him.

In a similar way, David’s internal death made his soul groan from within like a pit in his stomach.

Have you ever felt that pit in your stomach? That feeling you get when you know you should have done something and didn’t? Or when you did something that you know you shouldn’t have done? Have you felt the heavy hand of the Lord as you dealt with the guilt of your sin?

David seems to be saying here that the longer he kept it in, the more his strength and life died within him.

But his personal experience has a bright spot. It’s as though the “hand” of the Lord – or we might say, the conviction of the Holy Spirit finally caused him to move.

Psalm 32:5 ESV

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

I can almost hear David joining in with William Wallace as he cried out for the last time – “Freedom!!!!!”

He finally gets to the end and confesses. In David’s case, it took the prompting of a faithful friend and a man of God – but the confession finally came.

David came clean.

It’s interesting that we try to hide ourselves from God. He knows everything. He knows what we do. Our confession is not a benefit to Him – but rather a benefit to us.

I love what it says there – “’I will confess my transgression to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.’” This is more than just forgiveness, it’s freedom from guilt. Lady MacBeth did not enjoy this freedom. I fear that far too many people live with the guilt of their sin – not even really knowing what to call it, and yet the drown it in alcohol or cover it with addictions, work, affairs, distractions.

Oh that you and I would truly know this freedom of forgiveness.

From this point, David’s instructional Psalm takes a turn. Where he began by relaying the Principle of being cleansed and his Personal experience, he then turns to the…

Practical application (6-7)

Psalm 32:6–7 ESV

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

Because of all of this that has been shared already, he is urging that men and women of God pray at the right time – pray quickly when God is convicting. When sin comes and conviction follows – pray – confess and rejoice in the freedom of forgiveness. The NLT says that in doing this the waters of judgment cannot attack.

David acknowledges God’s role of protection, hiding in the face of forgiveness. He seems to want the same thing for other people. If we listen to his challenge – we won’t fall into the same trap that he did.

So, what happens if you confess your sin to the Lord and then you fall back into it - over and over again? What happens when the guilt isn’t lifted?

I think this is where that sin has become an idol to us. Our happiness with that pleasure supersedes our contentment in our Creator. We worship the sin rather than the savior. I think David has some help for us in this regard, in verses 8-9.

In this next section, it’s a little unclear as to who is speaking. The text seems to indicate it is David. Some commentators seem to thing that God is writing. No matter who it is, there is this desire to…

Pass it on (8-9)

No – I’m not talking about the campfire song from the 70s. These verses say:

Psalm 32:8–9 ESV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

The author here – whether God or David is talking about a personal instruction. He offers to personally get involved in someone’s life in order to help them understand this powerful life lesson.

Basically he’s saying – Don’t wander aimlessly through life (like a horse or mule without a bit and bridle). I have experience in this and want to teach to where you should go.

I’ve heard it said that there are two types of experience – yours and others. It’s often less painful to learn from the experience of others.

The author here is taking a personal interest in the reader – much like a parent does with a child.

I think this is where we all can have a part to play in each other’s lives. Near the end of his letter, James provides some instructions - mostly centered around sickness, healing, and prayer.

James 5:15–16 ESV

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

There will be times when we need a little help - when we need someone else to come alongside us and be an instrument in the Lord’s hands in our lives. By confessing sin to one other, we invite someone like the prophet Nathan into our lives. Someone who loves us, who wants the best for us, but who will also not let us be deceived in our own sinfulness.

When we entered into a membership covenant together, we promised some things in our actions toward each other:

TOWARD ONE ANOTHER: We further agree to never forsake the assembling of ourselves together, to watch over one another in brotherly love; to faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require, to remember each other in prayer, to nurture and encourage those who at any time come under our care, to aid each other in sickness and distress, to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling, and courtesy in speech, to be slow to take offense but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We are family. We are here for each other for the glory of God and for our own mutual encouragement and edification.

I realize, confessing sin to one another takes vulnerability and it takes trust. It’s difficult, but I believe it’s worth it.

Now, let me encourage you, if someone comes to you and says, “I am struggling with this sin in my life, will you pray for me, will you help me be accountable?” please follow through on that. Pray with and for him or her. Ask about this area from time to time. Be discreet - this is between you and that person and God - no one else.

David seems to want to pass along the knowledge and the information that he has received. In this case, it’s a bit didactic or instructive. In our lives, it may include some teaching - as we instruct one another in community groups, or disciple our children, or disciple a friend. It may also be sympathetic as we walk alongside each other - strengthening each other.

We have this treasure in the truth of God’s word. As we read and learn and grow – I believe we have an obligation to pass along what we know.

Finally, David concludes with a…

Providential Benediction (10-11)

Psalm 32:10–11 ESV

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

He contrasts the difference between the wicked – those who hold onto their willful sin and resulting guilt with the ones who trust in God’s forgiveness and get to rejoice in the freedom of forgiveness.

One of the things we have to recognize is that sin is a reality in all of our lives. We are born in it, we struggle with it, are condemned in it - Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus took the eternal consequence of our sin - he took our death so that we might live. So for those who have received his free gift, who have trusted in His salvation - the eternal punishment of sin is covered.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 8:1 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

So, are you in Christ Jesus? Have you trusted in Him? Let today be the day that you respond to his call. In a few moments, we are going to have an extended time of singing. This will be an opportunity for us to sing and prayerfully do business with God. If you’ve not yet trusted in Christ as your savior, then I’d like to encourage you to slip out of your seat while we are singing, go to the room in the back of the sanctuary. We have a couple of men and women who are available to talk with you, to pray with you, to help you understand what it means to walk in eternal freedom from your sin.

I do think it’s important for all of us to reflect on some personal takeaways.

Personal Takeaway

If you are a follower of Christ:

Are you living in the freedom that comes from forgiveness of sins?

Are there things in your life that you are trying to hide from God?

Are you distracting yourself with work, pleasure, or entertainment in order to keep from coming clean?

Let me encourage you to deal with him with that now. Experience that freedom.

If you’ve never received the ultimate forgiveness of God by accepting his free gift of salvation – then slip out while we’re singing and talk to those in the back. If you’d rather talk with me then I’d love to talk to you afterwards about what it means to have a relationship with him and how you can know that you are free eternally.

Let’s pray.

Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Read: Psalm 32

What is the principle that David begins with?

Why is confessing sin so difficult?

What affects does unconfessed sin have in our lives?

What are the benefits of confessing sin to the Lord?

Why might we need to confess sin to one another?

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