Psalm 32Psalm 32Psalm 32Psalm 32

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Happy are those to whom

the L��� imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 While I kept silence, my body wasted

away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was

dried up as by the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I

said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the L���’, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6Therefore let all

who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach

them. 7 You are a hiding-place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of de-

liverance. I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,

else it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who

trust in the L���. 11 Be glad in the L��� and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

I n one of my pastorates I remember receiving a small glass communion cup in the mail from

someone who had worked for the church years before and had taken it when his employ-

ment with the church was unexpectedly terminated. In another, I opened an envelope that

contained a check for $100.00 from a man, completely unknown to me, who had, when he was

a child, stolen a one dollar bill out of the offering plate of the church. Neither theft was a

ma"er of any real significance in terms of the church’s economy, but for the two individuals

concerned, restitution was needed for them to feel any sense of relief from the burden of guilt

they carried. The truth is that as long as we keep the memory of wrongs buried within us, the

larger they will grow and the heavier they are to bear.

I rather doubt that neither of the men mentioned above carried any daily sense of guilt for the

wrong he had commi"ed, but it was always there and coming across the broken glass com-

munion cup one day or visiting again the church where in his childhood he lifted a single dol-

lar bill from an unguarded offering plate, brought the wrong to mind again. There may well

be things that you will never be able to confess to another human being and which for the sake

of all are best kept quiet, but there is nothing that we must fear revealing to God, for God is

gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The burden of our guilt

can only be lifted when we acknowledge our wrong, turn to God in confession, and make

amends as we are able. Only then can we know the gift of healing.

© J. Dudley Weaver, Jr. 2013

Daily Devotional

Reflections on the Psalms