The only cover that will hide our sins forever away from God’s sight is that provided in the atoning death of His Son.
He is blessed indeed who has a Substitute who assumes all accounts to stand for him.
If the believer does not humble himself by the confession of his sins to God, God will humble him by chastisements.
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psalm 1 – J. Vernon McGee
Psalm 32 – The Song of the Forgiven
David wrote this psalm, Romans 4:6-8. Maschil means “to give instruction.” We are deeply instructed as to the working of conscience. Compare with Psalm 51. This was one of Luther’s favorites.
For some time after his sin, David withheld confession and suffered terribly. But when the wound was opened and the poison pressed from it, he burst out in the words with which the psalm opens: Blessed! Sin means missing the mark; iniquity is that which is turned aside from its course. Forgiven, covered, not imputed—each of these is true in Jesus.
The presence of God is always appreciably nearer when floods are running high. Note those three precious promises of instruction, teaching, and guidance, Psalm 32:8. Throw on God the responsibility of indicating your path. Don’t wait for the sharp jerk of bit or bridle; let love prompt and inspire your every movement. Haydn said: “When I think on God, the notes dance from my pen.” Remember the music and dancing that welcomed the prodigal! —Through the Bible Day by Day
Psalm 32:8—I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.
“Learn of Me”, said the Master (Matthew 11:29): and indeed there is no teacher like Him; no school like his. We stand at the door of the school-house, saying, “What I know not, teach Thou me;” and He does not hesitate to undertake our case. But there are several points of difference from our methods. In Christ’s school there is but one Master for all the scholars, and they all learn from the same books; the pupils begin with the upper classes and end with the lowest; and those that are most proficient, and have been longest under his tuition, are most conscious of their ignorance. There are no holidays; but every day is a holy day. The school never breaks up; but the students leave it for Home, and the prizes are sent after them, and given when they arrive.
We need more than personal instruction; we are travelling through an unknown land, and require direction for the way. This also is guaranteed; but not as in the cases of tourists, who extract all information from their friends before they start from home, as to the places they are about to visit. Our Guide accompanies us. He counsels us with his eye upon us, detecting every pitfall and chasm, and warning us; perhaps even guiding us by the movement of his eye.
How greatly then are we in need of the quickened sense! The eye fixed on his eye; the ear open to his slightest whisper; the foot quick to place itself down in his footprints. The horse and mule need bit and bridle; but it is enough for us if the heart fears to miss the least indication of the Master’s will. Be willing to know; it then becomes his part to make thee know somehow. If not in one way, then in another. —Our Daily Homily