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Repent and Return
Psalm 32
“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose
sins are covered.”
This Psalm offers thanks for forgiveness of sins, and it
is one of the seven penitential Psalms. It also has a number of features
reminiscent of ‘the beatitudes’ in the first two verses, each of which
begins with blessed or happy (Matt. 5: 3-10).
What are the transgressions? We
have references to three types of sins here, which are rebellion against
God’s will, missing the correct path and iniquities or unjust way of
life. These sins cause silence for it says, ‘When I kept silent’ (V.3).
Anything that prevents having a conversation, prayer or
thanksgiving to God is a sin. Sins make us hide from God, but
we cannot just hide from Him; we are in His presence at all times.
How do we repent? We
need an honest acknowledgement of all our sins, both of commission and
omission, hiding nothing, nor being silent or evasive about anything. God
knows us in the depth of our being. It can be easy to say sorry about few
minor things, but not so easy to search our hearts for the attitudes,
platitudes, and personality traits that lead us to upsetting others. We
need to move on and seek forgiveness of those we have hurt in our family
and community, and forgiving those who have hurt us, as well.
What
does it mean to be fully forgiven? We
can become over familiar with the Bible, quoting often to fit our needs,
yet sometimes we need to meditate afresh, by ourselves, on the wonder of
God’s amazing grace. It can be an immense relief, and a real source of
blessing, to confess one’s sins and experience God’s forgiveness. We will
be very happy to say ‘Amen’ to the words, ‘Blessed is he whose sins are
forgiven.’ Psalmist uses three phrases for forgiveness: lifted, blotted
and not counted. These suggest that after confession sins are no longer
held against the person who repents. St. Paul quotes the first two verses
of this Psalm in the context of discussing justification by faith
(Rom.4:7-8). We have this amazing assurance in Isaiah, ‘Though your
sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are
red as crimson, they shall be like wool (Isa. 1.18).
The blessedness of Forgiveness: This
‘repent and return’ state brings us into happiness. Going away from God
due to our sins and coming back to God through repentance is an on-going
everyday experience of grace. In this state of grace, we are ready
to live the life God has prepared for us. This is the blessedness that
Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount, which comes to the meek, the
merciful, the peacemakers and the pure in heart.
PRAYER
Dear Father, we give thanks to you for your
never ending forgiveness and unconditional love. Forgive us if we have
treated your love and redemption as minor things, and if we have never
even begun to love you as you have first loved us, we pray. Amen!
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY
Happiness has no limit; it is to be with God
and love Him.
Dr. Zac
Varghese, London
Christian Education Forum,
Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
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