Psalm 32 - The Passion Translation

   The Passion Translation of Psalm 32 is so meaningful to me!  I have been teaching a class on Integrated Healing this past semester.  One of the important premises of the class is built on recognizing, repenting and confessing sins so that we can receive (appropriate) the forgiveness and healing provided by Jesus on the Cross.  This Psalm affirms and confirms that this has been the way to deal with sin from the beginning.  The blood of animals was the substitute and forerunner of the ultimate sacrifice paid by Jesus.  Because so many of us have not recognized our sin and confessed it as such, we haven't appropriated the blood of Jesus to our lives to remove the sin and therefore are carrying the consequences in our bodies, often in the form of physical illness.  David gives us an example of how to deal with this as he relates his experience to us in Psalm 32.

Psalm 32 - Forgiven

 1 How happy and fulfilled are those
    whose rebellion has been forgiven,
    those whose sins are covered by blood.
2 How blessed and relieved are those
    who have confessed their corruption to God!
    For he wipes their slates clean
    and removes hypocrisy from their hearts.
3 Before I confessed my sins, I kept it all inside;
    my dishonesty devastated my inner life,
    causing my life to be filled with frustration,
    irrepressible anguish, and misery.
4 The pain never let up, for your hand of conviction
    was heavy on my heart.
    My strength was sapped, my inner life dried up
    like a spiritual drought within my soul.
Pause in his presence
5 Then I finally admitted to you all my sins,
    refusing to hide them any longer.
    I said, “My life-giving God,
    I will openly acknowledge my evil actions.”
    And you forgave me!
    All at once the guilt of my sin washed away
    and all my pain disappeared!
Pause in his presence
6 This is what I’ve learned through it all:
    All believers should confess their sins to God;
    do it every time God has uncovered you
    in the time of exposing.
    For if you do this, when sudden storms of life overwhelm,
    you’ll be kept safe.
7 Lord, you are my secret hiding place,
    protecting me from these troubles,
    surrounding me with songs of gladness!
    Your joyous shouts of rescue release my breakthrough.
Pause in his presence
8–9 I hear the Lord saying, “I will stay close to you,
    instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life.
    I will advise you along the way
    and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide.
    So don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn
    when I take you where you’ve not been before.
    Don’t make me tug you and pull you along.
    Just come with me!”
10 So my conclusion is this:
    Many are the sorrows and frustrations
    of those who don’t come clean with God.
    But when you trust in the Lord for forgiveness,
    his wrap-around love will surround you.
11 So celebrate the goodness of God!
    He shows this kindness to everyone who is his.
    Go ahead—shout for joy,
    all you upright ones who want to please him!