Passage Read: Psalm 31-34
Meditation Verses: 32:1-2
Thought
How blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven! This whole Psalm is about the need for and joy that comes with confession of sin. He finds forgiveness who confesses his sin to the Lord. But the one who doesn't confess, who lies about it in his heart, denying his wrong, this man suffers at the hand of the Lord. The Lord wants him to confess and renounce his sin so that he can be forgiven, but the pride of the man stands in his way. So the Lord lays a heavy hand on him, pressing down on him until the man gives in and confesses. Then he finds such relief and joy in the Lord's forgiveness. It's not worth it to deny our sin! And that's where the famous bit and bridle statement comes in: It has specifically to do with confession of sin--do not be stubborn and refuse to confess, do not be one who must be dragged against your will to do what is right. The wicked suffer many woes, but those who trust in the Lord and turn away from their sin enjoy great favor from the Lord.
Application
Nothing good comes from delaying my confession of sin. The Lord rewards with forgiveness and restored relationship those who confess and renounce their sin. But He weighs heavily on the hearts of those who lie to themselves and deny their sin. Life is miserable no matter how much we tell ourselves we weren't wrong. The quicker I confess, the sooner I'll discover that God stands ready to forgive, not reject. The sooner I'll find real relief and discover God is eager to restore my joy and blessing.