Have you ever been forgiven for something you did that clearly hurt someone else? Have you forgiven someone else for a similar behavior? Forgiveness is something that I think Christians can get “used to”, as God continues to forgive sins for those of us who have accepted salvation through Jesus.
However, forgiveness is actually a big deal. Forgiveness is not justice, which exacts payment for the offence. Forgiveness is not deserved, since the offense was still given in the first place.
When we receive forgiveness, we – despite having done something that was bad – are released from the debt that we owe to someone for wronging them. The person who forgives gives up their right to hold a past grievance over the one who hurt them. This comes at a cost, and we should probably remember on a regular basis that forgiveness is not trivial or free.
Let’s take a look at a passage from Psalm 32. We should note that David was the author of this psalm. As you may know, David was someone who sinned pretty grievously towards a woman named Bathsheba (along with David’s sinning against Uriah, Joab, and others to cover it up), and he paid a price for his sin. However, he also confessed his sin, seeking – and receiving – God’s forgiveness.
Whether or not Psalm 32 was written specifically after this particular event in David’s life, or in regard to some other forgiven sin, David knew what it meant to sin, and he knew what it meant to be forgiven.
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.Psalms 32:1-2 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.32.1-2.NIV
Like David did here, it’s probably good for us to also pause and remember from time to time how great it is that God has forgiven us.
There’s a Christian song called “Reckless Love”, which reminds us that God’s love and forgiveness were not something that we merited from our own behavior. It’s lyrics include the following:
I couldn’t earn it
I don’t deserve it
Still you give yourself away
(Bethel Music – Reckless Love (Spontaneous) [Live] Lyrics | Genius Lyrics)
David appreciated God’s forgiveness – how God set aside David’s sin – and this is a good fact to dwell on for a little while, perhaps in our personal prayer time.
Continuing in verses 3-4:, when David kept his sin to himself, it tore him up. It has been said that one’s sin is not the problem (although sin is a problem, of course); rather, one’s secret is the problem.
Just like David suffered when he kept his sin to himself, hidden sin does the same thing to us when we store it up in our hearts. It’s a problem when we keep practicing it, and it’s a problem when we don’t admit it (like David did for a while, until he got called out on it).
David says that God’s hand was “heavy” on him. Think about the daughter who has been told that she can’t go out with specific friends after she’s been caught going out and doing something dangerous with them, or a son who is prohibited from visiting a location where he did something illegal. The child may complain about the discipline, but until the problem is addressed, separating the child from the source of temptation – or the opportunity to make a grave mistake – is done out of love.
As a result, I don’t see God being mean or harsh to David by disciplining him. David’s sins and his secrets were going to continue to harm him until he confessed and started working on making things right. God was just giving David help to get to a healthier condition. (See also 2 Samuel 12:1-14)
Continuing into verses 5-7, when David did the right thing (confessing his sin to God) though, God forgave him. David found grace and forgiveness when he got his sin out in the open, and in this Psalm he seems to be reminding other people to do the same thing.
So, if we’re suffering because of sin, I suggest three steps:
- A good first step is to confess. Now, I realize that this can be challenging, so if we find this difficult, I suggest that we start by confessing to God (who we know loves us), then consider confessing to a trusted Christian friend (who hopefully loves us), and work our way up to confessing to those who we have hurt.
- After confessing, ask for forgiveness, but don’t be too proud to accept grace when it is extended to you. Once you have been freed from the weight of your sin, don’t dwell in it. (On the other hand, don’t keep sinning, either.)
- And, even if you don’t have unconfessed sin right now, let us celebrate and praise God for giving us grace and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a big deal, but it is available to us from God if we are willing to admit that we need it, ask for it, and accept it in the way that God tells us to.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 5, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, March 5, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Psalms Volume 1, by S. Edward Tesh & Walter D. Zorn. © 1999 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 