By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
GEMS FOR MEDITATION AND PRAYER
THEME FOR THE WEEK: COUNSELS FROM THE PSALMS: PART IV
SUNDAY
THEME: FORGIVENESS: GOD’S FREE OFFER”
SCRIPTURE: Psalms 32:1-2
“[1]Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. [2]Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
REFLECTIONS
Psalm 32 is titled “Contemplation” (“maschil,” in Hebrew) and implies giving instructions. Its theme is “The Joy of Forgiveness.” David may have composed it with Psalms 51 when he confessed his sin against Bathsheba. Confession is the gateway to forgiveness. Psalms 66:18 states, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” In addition, Proverbs 28:9,13 counsels: “[9]One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. [13]He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
Based on the premise that each of us has sinned (‘Romans 3:10, 23) and that God knows every sin we are holding on to, we need forgiveness, which we can obtain only through confession. Sin hurts, disarms, burns within the body, kills, and destroys; therefore, the earlier we eliminate its destructive impact when we sin, the better. Days of guilt-feeling and the weight of the iniquity committed are not suitable for anyone’s health—physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually. God’s loving and merciful provision for the sinner is remorse and confession.
One of the warmest consolations a repentant sinner would have is found in Psalms 32:1-2 – “[1]Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. [2]Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.” When sin is acknowledged, and repentance through confession is sought, God forgives readily. Even in the Old Testament, sinners were justified through faith, not by their works. About the text above, Paul states in Romans 4:6, “just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:” The blood of Christ covers our sins, we are forgiven, and justified with a new, clean, and unsoiled sheet.
David teaches us to openly and readily confess our sins and not hold on to them for long because it will wreak havoc. Even thoughts of guilt are classified among the leading causes of suicide. Psalms 32:3-6 reads, “[3]When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. [4]For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah [5]I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah [6]For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him.” Beloved, settle with God, confess and repent, and be justified by Christ Jesus.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 296 – “Lord, I’m Coming Home”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His grace during the past week; thank Him for a new week; pray to stay close to the Lord this week;
– Intercede for those who are not well, couples who have challenges, individuals and families facing economic difficulties;
– Pray for deliverance for those in addiction, abusive relationships, sunk in sin, have no regard for God’s word, and the unrepentant sinner;
– Pray for the nation’s peace and development, search for righteousness, and appreciate God’s word; pray for those who have recently given their lives to Jesus.
–
