Cleared & Honest
“Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” Ps. 32:1-2 (NLT)
As I look around, I see so many hurting people- people ravaged by sin and its consequences. Some believers are bound by condemnation for past sin. There are people who daily live with shame, wearing a mask of repose, in the face of fear.
We all mess up. We are all sinners from birth. Even as Christians, we occasionally stumble (or fall headlong) into sin. As I study the life of David, I am amazed at the beauty of his Psalms, even in the wake of bloody wars, adultery, murder, and family betrayal. How can a mighty man of battle, pen the beautiful words recorded above?
I think a lot of the reason is found in these verses. He found joy in knowing his disobedience was forgiven. The weight of his past sins was rolled away. The joy of living forgiven, rolled from his tongue in beautiful poetry. He knew the joy of forgiveness because he knew the heavy grief and darkness of sin. The startling contrast set his heart, and mind, to song. In Ps. 51, he stated, “…my sin is ever before me.” But in contrast, here he recognizes that God has put it out of sight. It is buried in the blood of Jesus, never to be recovered. (Like the body of Moses, whom God buried, was never found.) His sin is cast in the sea of forgetfulness. King David goes on to acknowledge that those who have confessed and obtained this forgiveness, God declares them “not guilty.” What does that mean? In a court of law, it means that they are found innocent of the crimes that they have committed. Before the judge, and the watching world, they are found to be blameless in the situation for which they are accused. Isn’t that powerful?
David does not end there, (I love this translation-!) it says their lives are lived in complete honesty. Does that mean that they constantly tell their sin? It appears to me, in this context, that the honesty is found in agreeing with God. He has declared them guiltless. Therefore, the honesty of innocence is lived out in their lives. It is not because they never sinned- but in the honesty that they are in Christ, and therefore, a new creature. Their slate is wiped clean; their record expunged.
Isn’t that incredible? We are sinless in His sight. Not because we have always lived right. But because Jesus always did. His precious, cleansing blood removes from us our sin shame, and guilt. Our garments are restored to their former condition. People who look at our apparel see “white as snow” where it was once crimson in bloodguilt.
There is such blessing in God’s provision. The cancellation of sin. Praise God! But also the removal of guilt and shame. The blessing of living “honestly” in his blamelessness.
His mercies are new every morning.
If you are bound in sin, do not hide it. Bring it to the one who can remove every particle of it from your life. If you are forgiven, allow God to teach you how to walk in the “honesty” of your blamelessness.
Oh, Lord, thank you. Thank you that when you restore us, it is total. Thank you that we are not forever banished to live as disavowed stepchildren, but instead, we live in absolute right standing with you! In Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Sherri,
Thanks for this timely word. Indeed – what joy there is basking in God’s forgiveness.
I love reading the Psalms, especially David’s. He was a broken man, but honored by God. David knew that he had sinned against God, and became clean by confession his sins.