Sermon Tone Analysis

Read Psa 32

Man’s sufferings are mainly related to sin; the sin of Adam brought pain, suffering, and death to mankind; but we cannot blame Adam for all our sufferings.

Most of our sufferings are connected to our own sin.

David had committed adultery with Bathsheba; he had betrayed one of his good soldiers, Uriah; he had ordered the murder of Uriah in order to cover his sin and stay with Bathsheba.

For almost a year, David refused to acknowledge and confess his sin.

It wasn’t until Nathan, the prophet, confronted him that confessed it.

and go hand on hand.

Both refer to the same event.

While describes the spiritual effects of non-confessed sin, in he expressed the physical effects, the peace and joy that comes with forgiveness, and an exhortation to others to not commit the same mistake he did.

Effects of unconfessed sin.

Spiritual and mental anguish.

“renew a steadfast spirit within me.” 51:10

Sin is, first of all, a spiritual matter.

It is spiritual separation from God.

David knew that his spirit was not the same as when he walked in obedience to God.

His strong and confidant spirit had become a wavering, and weak spirit.

It wouldn’t be strange if he was paranoiac, like when we have done something wrong and are afraid of being discovered.

“What if the people find out?” “What if God punish me?” His spirit was not in peace!

Dostoievski described such state in his book “Crime and Punishment” where Rodion Raskolnikov commits a crime and from that moment on he lives a miserable and paranoiac life even when no one is pursuing him.

His conscience was his worst enemy.

:1

Although David hide his sin, he said, “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as the fever heat of the summer”.

4

Although David hide his sin, he said, “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me”.

Physical ailments.

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away.”

32:3

“Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.”

51:8

Since David was not a doctor, he resumed his suffering as “my body is wasted away”, “my bones have weakened”, or “my bones have become old”.

Since his spirit was broken and suffering spiritual anguish, we can say that anxiety was daily part of his life during that year.

Anxiety, one of the ways in which unconfessed sin results, produces serious effects in the body.

According to medical experts, anxiety may produce (slide) shortness of breath, High Blood Pressure, arrhythmia, fatigue, trembling, sweating, muscle tension, digestive problems, pale skin, headaches, sleep problems, and blood flow to muscles.

(Slide) Other professional also add dizziness, decreased sex drive, nausea, and diarrhea.

Sin brings serious consequences to our body!

Illustration: Innocence and Guilt (EO7700I, 645)

Peace and Joy in God’s forgiveness.

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!

How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!”

We may deceive some for some time, but, sooner or later, the deception will be discovered.

God wants us to enjoy His peace.

Our Lord Jesus came to this world to give peace to those who believe in Him:

:27

33

There was no peace in David’s heart while he lived in deceit.

He deceived many for a year, but God knew about his sin.

There was no peace in David’s heart while he lived in deceit.

He deceived many for a year, but God knew about his sin.

We may deceive some for some time, but, sooner or later, the deception will be discovered.

For David’s benefit, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him.

If someone confronts you about sin, see it as God being merciful to you and seeking the best for you.

Joy is recovered when we’re forgiven.

While in sin, David’s cry to the Lord was:

Such joy would not be restored until David settle accounts with God.

13

At the end of the , David was able to talk about joy saying, “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”

At the end of the , David was able to say “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”

Why he could say it?

Because, at that moment, he had already experienced God’s forgiveness:

Psa 32:5

“You surround me with songs of deliverance.”

32:7

A call to repentance.

For David’s benefit, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him.

David

As someone who had found forgiveness, David felt he was responsible of calling others to repentance.

Now David could teach others from his own experience: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eyes upon you.” 8

It was like David saying, “I did this and this is what happened to me.

Do not do it!”

Learning from someone’s experience is cheaper and less painful!

But some do not listen, they want to try it out.

To those, the psalmist says:

Psa 32:9

Pro

In other words, do not wait for the strike to repent and come to God.

Insisting in our sin or iniquity will only bring us only pain: “Many are the sorrows of the wicked,” 10a

But if we come to the Lord with faith and a repentant heart, we will find forgiveness and mercy:

“But he who trust (has faith) in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.”

10b