“Blessed is the One” - Psalm 32 (Day 1)

So far in our journey through the Psalms, we've read about God being our shepherd, light, and stronghold - the One who guides, protects, provides, and watches over us. Along the way, there has been adversity and trials, moments of rock-solid confidence and closeness with God, and seasons of doubt and distance - the full range of our faith journey weaved together. This week, as we turn our attention to Psalm 32, we'll witness a different type of turmoil; rather than being beyond our control, this fight resides within ourselves - the pain of hidden struggles, unconfessed sin, and covered-up shame. 

Our natural tendency will be to avoid this exposure of  our darkness to light, but when we do, we rob God of the opportunity to show a different side of His character - the One who graciously forgives. So, before we begin our exploration of Psalm 32, I want to provide a space to think about those unaddressed struggles in your life - not to pile on more shame, guilt, and embarrassment - but to simply consider what response you would receive from God if you shared them with Him.

As you read Psalm 32, pay attention and make note of any words, phrases, or themes that stand out to you.

Psalm 32 says this:

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.

7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

That’s a lot to unpack and an impossible task to do in today’s devotional - but that’s the beauty of sitting with a single Psalm for an entire week. It enables us to take our time, slow down, and chew on all its wisdom. So, let's read Psalm 32 once again, but this time, just the first two verses:

Psalm 32:1-2 says this:

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Take a moment to reflect on what you just read:

• What has the Lord done with our sins and struggles?

• What makes this such good news? 

When bringing up the topic of sin and struggles, we often start with the bad rather than begin with the good. We weren't born broken but instead created whole and complete - fully known and fully loved. Inside the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve experienced an unhindered relationship with God, their Creator. Yes, sin appeared, and disobedience occurred, introducing shame, distrust, and concealing our struggles into our now broken world - something we know all too well. But, we should never forget that we weren't made for the grave but rather to reside in that loving garden, which makes the Gospel such good news. Christ righted every wrong - because He conquered the grave, we need not spend our days riddled with the sting of sin, which only leads to death. Due to Christ's sacrificial love on the cross, we can let go of the burden of being weighed down by our struggles. 

David, the author of Psalm 32, begins with the good - our transgressions forgiven, our sins covered, and God no longer holds our struggles against us. This isn't something we strive to achieve but rather a state we reside in thanks solely to God's unfailing love, unconditional forgiveness, and overflowing grace. Those who trust and embrace this reality find themselves "blessed,” a concept spoken about in the opening of the book, Psalm 1. Here the way to be blessed has to do with what an individual avoids - they don’t walk in step with the wicked, stand in the path of sinners, or sit in the company of mockers. Instead, they delight in God’s Word and meditate on it day and night. When (not if)  we fall into sin and find ourselves struggling, Psalm 32 provides us with immeasurable hope because blessedness is still available to us and it comes as our confession and repentance meets the love of Christ. 

Take a moment and consider…What hope does standing in Christ’s forgiveness provide you? How have you been blessed by this forgiveness? 

Read today’s passage slowly one more time to remind yourself that you stand blessed and forgiven. Pay attention to what’s not present in the life of the blessed individual.

Psalm 32:1-2 says this:

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

"And whose spirit is no deceit." Unfortunately, one of the greatest weapons at the enemy's disposal is deception. He attempts to convince us that we are too far gone, unlovable, and a lost cause. Heaping on more shame and judgment, he pushes us into hiding, concealing, and justifying until we become overwhelmed by the vicious cycle of sin. The enemy knows that if he can get us to attach our struggles to our identity, we'll never consider stepping into the forgiveness that is rightfully ours because of Christ. Perhaps that's why David says the blessed man is the individual who keeps God's word and truth always in their sights. Doing so protects them from giving in to the enemy's lies by reminding them that God calls us forgiven. 

So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 32. First, take a moment to process this question…What causes you to doubt your sins are covered and transgressions forgiven? What lies are you vulnerable to believe? 

Another question to consider is this…How can you silence the deceptive lies of the enemy and embrace that God has  already settled your forgiveness? 

PRAYER

Father God, 

We are blessed beyond measure. 

We stand forgiven and free - the burden of our sin settled..

We need not hide our struggles, but can bring them boldly to You, 

knowing that they will be met with forgiveness, love, and grace. Amen.