July-09-0464-The blessings of the forgiven
464_Blessings of the forgiven Psalm 32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 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. Selah 6 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. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Years ago, in a small town, there lived a well-respected schoolteacher named Mr. Samuel. One morning, he walked into his classroom and found that someone had vandalized his carefully arranged lesson board with crude drawings and insults. It shook him deeply—not just because of the mess, but because the culprit had to be one of his own students. Without yelling or accusing, he calmly addressed the class: “Whoever did this, I want you to know something. I’m more interested in restoring trust than in punishing wrongdoing. If you come to me quietly and tell me the truth, there will be no punishment—only forgiveness.” The day passed in silence. The next morning, a shy boy named Peter knocked on Mr. Samuel’s door with tears in his eyes. “It was me,” he whispered, “I don’t know why I did it, but I did. I’m sorry.” Mr. Samuel didn’t scold him. He placed his hand gently on Peter’s shoulder and said, “Thank you for telling me. You’re forgiven. Let’s start fresh.” That moment changed Peter’s life. The weight he had carried was lifted, and the bond between student and teacher grew stronger. He became one of the most disciplined and thoughtful students in school—not because he feared punishment, but because he had tasted the healing power of forgiveness. This simple but powerful story echoes the deeper spiritual truth David explores in Psalm 32—a psalm that celebrates the profound relief and joy that comes when we come clean before God and receive His forgiveness. David, once burdened by the crushing guilt of unconfessed sin, now bursts with joy as he contemplates the blessing of being