The Blessed Thrill of Forgiveness

Psalm 32:6, 7

    Did you ever stop to think that if you lived, or have lived, for 70 years and sinned only once a day, you would have 25,550 sins that needed forgiveness? That does not even count the years when there are 29 days in February. But who dares to commit the sin today of saying that he does not sin every hour of every day? How often is it not that we carry a sin with us every minute for days at a time before we confess it?

    Surely then you understand why David in Psalm 32:6 speaks of a flood of waters that threatens us. But find comfort in his words when he writes: "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found: surely in the flood of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him."  Those floods of waters are God's holy wrath against sin.

    He also adds in verse 7, "Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."  Or as we can and should sing it (PRC Psalter):

    So let the godly seek Thee
    In times when Thou art near;
    No whelming floods shall reach them,
    Nor cause their hearts to fear.
    In Thee, O Lord, I hide me, 
    Thou savest me from ill,
    And songs of Thy salvation
    My heart with rapture thrill.

    What assurance we have here, when we confess our sins! God will give us assurance that they are forgiven. The flood of millions of our sins, and the humanly innumerable number of sins of the whole church from Adam onward, were placed upon Christ. No wonder that He in the garden of Gethsemane cried in such agony when He saw what was coming; and then on the cross cried, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

    Not only is God our hiding place Who preserves us from all trouble; but He causes songs of salvation to thrill our hearts with rapture. Listen then to David when he tells us to come to God with a prayer of confession of sin. You will be encompassed with joyful songs of deliverance. That flood of sin and guilt will never touch you. God says so through David.

Read: Psalm 27 
Psalter versification: #83:3

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Song for Meditation: Psalter #58
Why not sing along??

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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 21 ;  2 Chronicles 22 ;  2 Chronicles 23:1-21 
Romans 11:13-36 
Psalm 22:1-18 
Proverbs 20:7 
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Quote for Reflection:

“Let our miseries drive us to seek Christ; and as he admits none to the enjoyment of his rest but those who sink under the burden, let us learn, that there is no venom more deadly than that slothfulness which is produced in us, either by earthly happiness, or by a false and deceitful opinion of our own righteousness and virtue.”  -- John Calvin