From Futility to Forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-11)
An early church father, Cassiodorus, said, “foolish people believe that God remains ignorant of their actions.” One of David’s psalms helps us understand that God does know all that we do. Further, he teaches us that what we do will bring either consequences or blessings to our lives. Let’s think about it.
David speaks of the futility of trying to avoid his sin, to try to keep his failures undercover so God wouldn’t know about them. Read Ps. 32:3&4, and you will see what that got David. You will also see what it gets us, when we try to hide our deeds from God. It was an awful way to live, and he felt the heavy hand of God on his life.
How did he get from futility to forgiveness? David describes a process that includes recognition of his sins (vss. 3&4), acknowledgement of those sins (vs. 5a), confession of his sins (vs. 5b), and forgiveness of his sins (vs. 5c). We don’t know how long the process took, but it brought him to his senses and moved him from futility to forgiveness.
Once past the process, the psalmist makes some encouraging discoveries. When we live forgiven, God takes care of us in some specific and special ways. David discovered that God protects those He has forgiven. (vss. 6&7) God’s powerful presence surrounds and sustains those He has forgiven. He also provides instruction for those He has forgiven. (vs. 8a) We don’t have to live by our own devices because God promises that He will give us all the instruction and teaching we need to walk in “the way.”
Finally, the psalmist learns of an intimate, personal kind of relationship he has with God since being forgiven: I will guide you with my eye. (vs. 8b) This forgiving God chooses to live close enough to us that it is as though we can see His eyes and know how to stay in “the way” by watching His eyes move one way or another.
Whether a follower of Jesus or one considering becoming a follower, these words ring true for all of us. We who follow Jesus can allow sin to creep into our lives. We try to ignore it, and we discover the same futility David experienced. Only in living out the process of Psalm 32 can we move to forgiveness and the promises that are ours when we walk in “the way” with our Savior. May God help us move from futility to forgiveness! -- Pastor John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River, New Jersey
Dig This Quote: We are God’s own; therefore let every part of our existence be directed towards Him as our only legitimate goal. – John Calvin
Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:1-7
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