Thank God for Forgiveness

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-22-2025

Psalm 32

 

Introduction:

 

A. King David wrote Psalm 32, which is penitential in nature. There were several times when David failed God and faced the consequences of his sinfulness. In each of these instances, David repented, picked up his life, and moved on. Two of the most notable examples are David’s sin concerning Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 and the presumption of numbering the people in 2 Samuel 24.

 

1. David’s sin of numbering the people in 2 Samuel chapter 24 caused the death of seventy thousand men. Though not specified in the Book of Psalms, David’s confession is found in that chapter of the Bible. This failure does not fit the context of Psalm 32.

 

2 Samuel 24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

 

2. David’s sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite and other men who perished with him are possibly the background of Psalm 32. In Psalm 51, we find David’s godly sorrow, repentance, and confession. David confessed, and God forgave the sin, as great as it was; however, the recompense for these egregious acts, adultery and murder, continued.

 

Psalms 51:1-4 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (2) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (4) Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 

B. In the prelude of the Psalm, we find the word “Maschil.” The Psalm is didactic or instructional.

 

1. “Maschil” means to give instruction or to understand. The root word for “Maschil” is a primitive word שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal', meaning to be or make circumspect or intelligent.

 

2. שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is used 63 times in your Bible and four instances in the Book of Daniel, fully explain Maschil: I

 

a) t שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “they that understand” in Daniel 11:33.

 

b) שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “them of understanding” in Daniel 11:35.

 

c) שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “they that be wise” in Daniel 12:3.

 

d) שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “but the wise” shall understand in Daniel 12:10.

 

C. Psalm 32 is written for the individual about an individual’s failure and restoration. God wants each of us to understand our propensity in the same manner.

 

1. Verses 1-2. God’s mercy and forgiveness to the sinner. Here we find:

 

a. David has sinned.

 

1) Transgression – rebellion or revolt. To overstep a known boundary.

 

2) Sin – an offense, often habitual.

 

3) Iniquity – to pervert, perverse, immoral, wicked, or evil.

 

b. David has confessed.

 

c. God has forgiven.

 

d. It seems to me that it should be over.

 

e. There is mercy and forgiveness of the Lord. Forgiven, covered, imputeth not.

 

2. Verses 3-4. Before David’s forgiveness and restoration. Here we find that David did not get right with the Lord quickly.

 

a. David tried to hide his sin. “When I kept silence” We do not know how long David hid his sins from Israel, but it was long enough for the child to be born so I imagine it was at least a year after conception.

 

2 Samuel 11:25-26 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. (26) And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. (27) And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

 

b. David could not live with what he had done. Day and night, God’s hand was upon him in conviction and human sorrow. “thy hand was heavy upon me” In the day, “my bones waxed old,” it wore him down physically. At night, it wore him down spiritually, and he could not rest. “ For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me”

 

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

 

c. God knew! 2 Samuel 11:27 “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.”

 

d. God would not allow David to continue. God allowed David’s sin to finish, then confronted him. (James 1:15) “sin when it is finished.” God confronted David through Nathan.

2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

 

3. Verses 5-7. David’s restoration.

 

a. David acknowledged his sin. People often tend to rationalize and then minimize their mistakes. “We all sin, don’t we. Everyone is a sinner, right? I have seen others do much worse than me, and things turned out alright. David could never get right with God until he realized just how wrong he had been with God.

 

b. David confessed his sin. A confession is an agreement with the law. It is honesty with God!

 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

c. God is faithful and just! God faithfully forgave David of his sins, though he had to live with the continued results of such sinfulness. The sword never left his house. There are sins with little recompense, while others are lasting ones. David’s sin was so great because of who he was and what he did, so that the payment was paid for the rest of his life. Forgiveness does not always remove the penalty.

 

4. Verses 8-9. David’s Instruction.

 

a. Verse 8. Life’s lessons are, for the most part, experiential. Hard lessons teach great truth to be passed on to the generations to come. If sin did not work out well for us, it will not work out for others. I try to learn two ways from other people’s experiences. What works and what does not!

 

b. Verse 9. Do not be stubborn and require a “bit and bridle”. I have known of some horses who needed a “cutting bit” to cure their headiness. Mules can be extremely stubborn.

 

This reminds me of a story about a man who took his mule to a trainer. The trainer said, “You can come back and pick up the mule in a few days.” The owner replied, “Great! But please don’t hurt my mule.” The trainer assured him, “I won’t hurt your mule.”

 

However, as the owner was leaving and looking in the rearview mirror, he saw the trainer pick up a hammer and hit the mule between the eyes, causing it to drop to the ground. The owner quickly backed up, jumped out of his vehicle, and shouted, “I told you not to hurt my mule!”

 

The trainer calmly responded, “I did not hurt your mule. First, I had to get his attention.”

 

5. Verses 10-11. David’s Conclusion.

 

a. Verse 10. Sin causes sorrow and robs us of joy and peace. But trust in the Lord, and get it right! We will find that where “sin abounds,” grace that “more abounds,” and the “goodness and mercy” that follows.

 

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

b. Verse 11. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. When reconciliation takes place, fellowship is restored. Paul said to forget those things that are behind and press forward.

 

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

 

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

A Psalm of Forgiveness

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-25-2025

Psalm 130

 

Introduction:

 

A. Psalm 130 is another of the Songs of Degrees, also known as the Upward Psalms, which are intended to be sung by the Jewish people on their journey to Jerusalem during the Feast Days.

 

B.  This is a Penitent Psalm.  The spiritual time of this Psalm is one of honesty with God.  It is a time of despair, deep sorrow, and brokenness. It is a prayer of complete honesty before God during sinful despair. 

 

C.  The Psalm guides us to three places when we find ourselves in a state of sin.

 

1.  It guides the believer to repentance, which brings about mercy, to a confident hope.

 

2.  The Psalm does not lead the believer to a place of utter despair.

 

D.  At this point, we need to refresh our memories concerning the two types of repentance.

 

1.  Repentance unto Salvation.  This is not making a list of sins and asking God to forgive each of them.  We could not even remember all our sins because they would be too extensive.  Also, there are sins of ignorance and presumption, and all must be under Christ's blood.

 

Repentance unto salvation is repentance from “dead works.”  Hebrews 6:1.

 

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

This repentance involves understanding and acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves due to our sinful state. I call it “Bringing a bankrupt sinner to Christ.” Positional Repentance is a one-time event that covers all sin: past, present, and future.

 

2. Repentance unto Restoration to Fellowship. After salvation, we remain sinners. This is not a license to sin; it is the truth that our sinful flesh is still alive and our old nature intact. Thus, Romans 7:7-25 and 1 John 1:9! There will never be an eradication of our sinful nature until either death or the rapture of God’s church.

 

Romans 7:18-21  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20)  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

 

1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

E.  In Psalm 130, we find some important things:

 

1.  The Realization of Sinfulness.  “Out of the depths.”  Not literal water, but emotional, spiritual despair. This is the cry of someone drowning in guilt, fear, or shame.  The image of drowning, of being submerged in guilt or sorrow. The “depths” in biblical language often represent chaos, judgment, or despair (Jonah 2, Lamentations 3:55).

 

a.  Darkness is not like turning a light switch on or off.  There, you immediately transition from light to darkness or darkness to light.  I fear that many of God’s children have, to some degree, seared their consciousness of sinfulness.  I call this “getting used to the dark!” 

 

b.  We will never get right with God until we come face to face with who we are and what we have done.  There are no “little sins” as Christ Jesus had to die to pay for each of them. 

 

c.  Little sins ultimately transition into what we call large sins.  Evidently, the psalmist had drifted along for some time, which produced “the depths” in which he now resided.

 

2.  The Personalization of sinfulness.  “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” 

 

a.  We need to realize that personal sinfulness rests wholly upon self.  No victimization.  I am the problem, and the fault or sin is mine alone.  Victims can always find someone or something to blame for their predicament.

 

b.  We need to realize that we have a sinful nature and wicked flesh, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God!”  This is not an excuse for sinfulness, but a statement of sinfulness. 

 

c.  Because of this, we must stand guard 24/7!  Do not trust the flesh to make decisions regarding spiritual matters, as the flesh is in opposition to God and our primary enemy.

 

d.  This is a profound acknowledgment of human guilt. None of us could stand if God kept a strict account of our sins. But verse 4 brings the gospel note:

 

“But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

 

Here is the good news in the middle of a psalm of lament. God forgives! Not cheaply, not casually—but thoroughly. And this forgiveness doesn’t lead to laxity—it leads to reverent fear. The more we grasp God’s mercy, the more we reverence Him.

Theological Point:
This is not mere leniency. It’s covenantal mercy. The Hebrew word used here suggests a forgiveness that is rooted in relationship. God's mercy flows out of His steadfast love

 

3. The Confession of Sinfulness. “I cried unto thee.” 

 

a.  We cannot forgive our sins; we must ask for forgiveness, as the power of forgiveness belongs to God alone.  The primary biblical example of this is familiar to both you and me.    King David’s sin of lust, adultery, murder, and concealment (he thought). 

 

b.  David thought that he had it covered, but “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” (2 Samuel 11:27 ) 

 

c.  Psalm 51 is David’s Penance Psalm.

 

Psalms 51:1-4  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  (2)  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  (3)  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  (4)  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 

d.  Though David certainly sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah the Hittite, and Ahithophel (Bathsheba’s grandfather), he realized that his sin was “against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight!”

 

e.  Our sinfulness is against the Lord and needs to be dealt with before we can get right with others we may have offended.

 

4.  The Forgiver of sinfulness. “O LORD!”

 

a.  I am so glad that we do not have to go to Confession, my pastor, or the Church to find forgiveness of sin. Neither do we have to do penance for our sins.  Our Lord Jesus paid the full price for our sin, and no other sacrifice is needed.

 

b. Confessing and forsaking—this is the definition of repentance, which means not confessing while continuing in sin.

 

c.  Most people want a quick fix or a spiritual band-aid applied, but God requires complete honesty and godly sorrow.

 

2 Corinthians 7:10-11  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  (11)  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

 

d.  God's mercy is greater than our sin, and our hope rests in His unfailing love and redemption. 

 

Romans 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

 

5.  The Timing of Forgiveness. These Jews could receive forgiveness before they arrived at Jerusalem and the Temple. I have no problem with God’s people recognizing their sinfulness during a church service and addressing it right there, but I am thankful that I can reconcile with God before I go to church and then enjoy the service. 

 

In Jeremiah 33:3, the Lord said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

 

The proper timing for confession, repentance, and forgiveness is as immediate as possible!  Sin is much like physical sickness.  Ignoring it will not make it go away.

 

6.  The Faith of Forgiveness.  “let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” 

 

a.  This past Sunday morning, we saw that God said, in Exodus 34, that He was the God of forgiveness.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (I John 1:9) 

 

b.  Our faith is based upon God's Word.  God has promised forgiveness to all for everything.  So, ask!

 

c.  Our faith is based upon God’s love for His children.  God’s love and forbearance are incomprehensible to us as they have no limits.

 

d.  Take your burden to the Lord and LEAVE IT THERE. Now the psalmist shifts from plea to posture. He waits. He trusts. He looks to God’s Word, expecting Him to act.

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

David: A Man Of Great Forgiveness

 Temple Baptist Church - 11-28-2021

2 Samuel 12:13-23; Psalm 51:1-15

Introduction:

 

A.  In the past couple of weeks, we had a vivid look at possibly the darkest periods of Israel’s history as the greatest king their nation ever had sinned a great sin.  We also saw that with that great sin came great consequences and with confession came great forgiveness.

 

B.  God forgave King David and greatly used him for the rest of his life.  There are some tremendous lessons to be learned from David’s fall and restoration:  though God does not condone or excuse our sinfulness, He will forgive us and allow us to rise again from the dust of failure to be greatly used of God once more.

 

C.  This is the end of Thanksgiving Week.  If we want to thank God for something, thank Him for this: 

 

Psalms 103:10  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 

1.  God's Command to Peter concerning forgiveness - Matthew 18:21-22  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 

2.  God's Grace to us concerning forgiveness - 1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (There are no limitations set on God's forgiveness.  You confess, He forgives!)

 

D.  This morning, I want to look at David’s forgiveness: the basis, the requirements, and the fullness of it. 

 

1.  For seven days, David fasted and lay upon his face before God.

 

2.  I personally believe that Psalm 51 is a record of David’s penitent prayer made somewhere between verse 6 where he said, “I have sinned against the Lord” and “David arose … and worshipped” in verse 20.

 

3.  David sought for his child’s life.

 

4.  After the child’s death, went into the house of the Lord and worshipped His God.  Both of these acts require holiness.

 

Psalm 51:1-17

 

1.  The Basis of God’s Forgiveness.  (Love, mercy, propitiation)

 

a.  Verse 1 - “According to thy lovingkindness” - Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.  (God’s forgiveness is founded in His great love for His children.)

 

b.  Verse 1 - “According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies” - Lamentations 3:22-23  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  (23)  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  (God’s forgiveness is founded upon His great mercy toward His children.)

 

c.  Verse 1 - “Blot out my transgressions” - Leviticus 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.  (God’s forgiveness is founded is His precious blood shed for His children.)

 

Colossians 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 

2.  The Requirements of God’s Forgiveness.

 

a. Verse 4 - “I have sinned against the LORD.” – Realization - Psalms 51:4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  (Technically, David had also sinned against Uriah, Bathsheba [though she was not without guilt, David’s was the greater sin], and against all Israel but his sin against God caused all of the rest to fade into the distance.  In this verse, we see that God will accept our tears but not our excuses!  David did not blame the woman as Adam did nor did he blame his failure on society, heredity, or environment.  David took full responsibility for his actions.)

 

b.  Verse 3 - “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” – Confession – 1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Psalms 32:5  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.  (Confession and forgiveness are both Old and New Testament doctrines.  The Apostle Paul quoted the last part of verse 4, “that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” in Romans 3:4.  Confession is both acknowledgement to God and agreement with God on sin.)

 

c.  Verse 17 - “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” – Humility - 1 Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  (The great “King” became just a man before both God and Israel.  No pride, no special privileges, and no excuses!  “I have sinned!”  He lay unashamed upon his face before his God.)

 

d.  Verse 17 - “A broken and a contrite heart.” – Godly Sorrow - 2 Corinthians 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  (David’s sin had broken his heart.  Godly sorrow works repentance and repentance a change of heart and actions.)

 

3.  The Fullness of God’s Forgiveness.  (In verses 16, we find that David realized that there was no sacrifice for the sin of adultery.  The penalty for this particular sin was to be stoned!  David understood this and he bypassed the Levitical sacrifices by throwing himself completely upon the mercy of God.  In our text we find David’s desire in these words: purge me, make me to hear joy, hide thy face from my sins, create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me, cast me not away, take not thy holy spirit, restore unto me the joy, uphold me, deliver me from bloodguiltiness, open my lips and my mouth.)

 

a.  “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” - Complete Remission - Psalms 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 

b.  “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” - Complete Restoration - Psalms 51:8-12  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.  (9)  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  (10)  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  (11)  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  (12)  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 

c.  “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” - Certified Reusable!  - Luke 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.  (I am still glad that the Potter does not throw the “clay” away!  If you sin, get right—get up—get going!)