Blessed is the One – Psalm 32
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
What does the passage say?
V. 1-2 Blessed is… The Psalmist says that the blessed is the ones ‘whose sins are forgiven.’ We need to remember that the true blessings only comes from the restored relationship with God, and the first step is to be forgiven.
V. 3-5 When the sins were not acknowledged or confessed it ate the Psalmist up. However, when he understood how he was a sinner, and confessed his transgressions to the Lord, he praises the Lord for his forgiveness. Rember, “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8 NRSV)
V. 6-11 “These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;” (v. 6 The Message) The Psalmist says that we all need to seek God. When we’re looking for God, not only that God forgives us, but also we hear God saying, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (v. 8 NRSV).
What does this mean to me/us
Many people think that the character of God in the Old Testament and the character reflect on God, through Jesus Christ, in the New Testament is different.
However, we see how God’s faithfulness and character are unchanging. God’s Love is an unfailing love. It never changes, nor lets us go.
Although, there is a prerequisite to being embraced by this love. We need to lift our hand up to God. We need to seek God, and we need to reach out to our Lord.
It requires a form of vulnerability. That is the reason we are going through this season of Lent. Knowing and acknowledging that we came from dust and we are going back to dust. Knowing that with sin, that covers us like dust, we have no life.
So may our faith be renewed through this time, as we acknowledge our shortcomings. And may our faith arise, as we experience God’s restoration.
What does this mean to you?
Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.