Living in the reality of forgiveness

Pastor Rick Donald of Harvest Bible ChapelIntro: Psalm likely came from time post David and Bathsheba

1. My forgiveness from God is available through confession (v 1-2)

  • Who I am. David describes himself as transgressor, sinner, iniquity
  • Who God is. David describes God’s action as lifted, covered, counts no iniquity
  • “no deceit” is the person who is honest with himself and God

2. My fellowship with God is broken through sin (v 3-4)

  • “bones wasted away” is a picture of spiritual weakness
  • “groaning all day long” it affected him emotionally all day long
  • “hand heavy…heat of summer” the sin taking a physical toll too; God is convicting his heart and David won’t relent
  • Why don’t we confess our sin? 1. Love sin, 2. Rationalize, 3. Don’t see my sin, 4. I deserve my sin, 5. Don’t want fallout of my sin

3. My growth in God is advanced through repentance (v 5)

  • Acknowledge = confession, calling sin what God calls it
  • Confess = repentance, to rethink or change my mind if I could do it over again
  • Seek repentance by 1. Change my mind (inputs), 2. Understand/embrace emotion, 3. Exercise the will by choosing differently

4. The promises in God is experienced through humility (v 6-9)

  • David is saying to be tender, quick, responsive to God’s prompting.
  • God is offering His presence, His protection, and His path when I’m humble

5. My thankfulness to God is expressed through worship (v 10-11)