The Joy of Forgiveness

There is a joy in being forgiven: in knowing your own weakness and folly are not being held against you. This thought comes from Psalm 32 which in my Bible, is entitled “The Joy of Forgiveness”. Sometimes we are the ones who have forgiven someone, and have decided that we will not hold an offence against them, but this Psalm talks about God’s forgiveness of us.

Psalm 32:1-4 ESV “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.”

This passage talks about the great weight of guilt which can consume us, leave us feeling burdened with shame, and anxiety. Sometimes knowing our most selfish ways and thoughts leaves us stricken and unable to resolve our own behavior. There is no way to move on or forgive ourselves. We are stuck in our own mess. Our thoughts return to our issues again and again, with no relief. God enters into this situation, providing forgiveness. He is the redeemer.

Psalm 32:5-7 ‘I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.”

If we are being honest with ourselves, we have had moments when we are appalled at our own behavior or the words that have come out of our mouth. We do not recognize ourselves in those moments and do not know how to go beyond them. Yet, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1. If we run to Him, we find forgiveness and love instead of the anger and resentment we feel we deserve.

1 John 2:1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God not only forgives us, but cleanses us. The weight of judgement is gone, and we are empowered to go farther and be freer in Him. We can walk in the righteousness that Christ provides and develop the fruit of the Spirit of God. We have been redeemed.

Let’s rejoice today and experience the joy of forgiveness. It is ours through the redemption of Jesus Christ. "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36