How do we receive God’s forgiveness when we have royally blown it? Let’s look at the life of David and Psalm 32 to discover some principles.
David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, a married woman. He had plotted and had fulfilled his plan to have her husband, Uriah, killed. He had lived with this deception while appearing to be righteous. How did all this unconfessed sin affect David? Psalm 32:3, 4 reveals:
- David was not at peace. He felt God’s convicting hand upon him, but he was not ready to be honest with God.
- It affected his spirit. He groaned all day. He was restless, unhappy, and perhaps depressed.
- It affected his body. He felt weak and sickly. He had lost his zest for life. Unconfessed sin has a negative effect on us.
David might have remained in that depressed, unsettled state if it were not for the graciousness of God. God sent the prophet Nathan to him. Nathan told him a convicting story and gave David the opportunity to confess his sins (2 Samuel 11, 12:1-15). In Psalm 32:5 David states that he told God his sin. He did not hide it any longer. And when he did, God forgave him all the guilt of his sin. The guilt of adultery, murder, and deception.
God may not send a person like Nathan to us, but He always stands ready to hear our confession of sins and forgive us. Why does He do this? He loves us and wants a relationship with us. Unconfessed sin blocks that relationship. God wants openness and honesty. Our confession and desire to not repeat it, along with God’s forgiveness, restores our relationship with God.
What was the result of David’s confession and repentance (Psalm 32: 6-11)? God’s forgiveness, a restored relationship with Him, and David’s encouragement for everyone to turn to God, receive His forgiveness and then to rejoice in this God who offers us His constant, covenantal love. Won’t you receive His love and forgiveness today?
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