In Psalm 32, blessedness (or happiness) is a byproduct of two things: the joy of having God forgive our sins (v.1), and the joy of right living (v.2). Verses 3-7 reflect the joy of being forgiven, and verses 8-11 reflect the joy of righteousness. Note that the joy of forgiveness comes first, and the joy of righteousness second. This reminds us that we don’t earn God’s forgiveness by being righteous; rather, it is God’s forgiveness which transforms us, and makes us want to start living our lives for him.
Lord, we’ve all felt what it’s like when our conscience tells us we’ve done something wrong. We know the emotions we go through: the fear of being found out. The fear of being shamed. The fear of being punished. The fear of being disliked, unfriended, and disowned. While our sins do have consequences, when we confess our sins we experience something that always surprises us: bringing our sins to the light does us good. We are freed from the prison of fear that hiding our sins keeps us in. Our relationships with others and with God are able to be restored only when we come to the light. We find healing within as we reorient our lives away from the harmful ways of sin and in accord with the true ways of God. Therefore, O Lord, let us be quick to confess our sins, and enjoy the blessedness of your forgiveness.
God, we confess, so much of our lives we live less like your children and more like stubborn stallions and dumb donkeys of verse 9 fighting your ways, your truth, your provision, your plans, and doing everything we can to go our own way. O Lord, let us behold your love in your amazing forgiveness, and let your love transform us, so that the rest of our days are characterized not by fighting you, but by walking with you, seeing your love in your guidance, seeing your wisdom in your ways, and experiencing the joy, the blessedness, of righteousness. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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