1. Today’s Sermon: Psalm 32, “Blessedness of Forgiveness and of Trust in God” by pastor Jim Bomkamp

2. Background for Psalm 31: 1. King David was in great personal distress and cried out to the Lord, yet also has great confidence in God. 2. King David was in immediate danger. 3. King David knew that the Lord was his deliverer and refuge, and a stronghold to save him, but not by his own merit.

3. Background for Psalm 32: 1. This is a Psalm that King David uses for teaching and admonition regarding the blessedness of repenting and confessing of one’s sins. 2. The sin that King David confessed and repented of was the sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba and then murdering her husband 3. Psalm 32, Psalm 51, Psalm 130, and Psalm 143 deal with forgiveness for David, and in each case we see forgiveness came apart from the Law or works of the Law. 4. We will discuss King David’s utter agony, and also his great joy, before and after confessing his sin. 5. We will look at the benefits of confession and repenting.

4. Psalm 32: “1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”

5. Notice four words in Psalm 32:1 1. Transgression. 2. Sin. 3. Iniquity. 4. Guile or deceit.

6. Psalm 32: “1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah. 6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.Selah. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”

7. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Let us be obedient to Jesus who in His model prayer tells us that we need to ask forgiveness whenever we sin: Luke 11:1-4. 2. Take advantage of the promise of forgiveness and cleansing in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 3. Trust in the Lord, for if you will do so you are promised that lovingkindness will surround you and all that you do!