Thoughts for the Day

The Joy of Forgiveness. Of David. A Maskil.

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
You are a hiding-place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

There are seven so-called 'Penitential Psalms' in the Psalter, numbers 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. As we see, today's psalm is the second one. It starts with the word "Happy", rather than the more usual "Blessed", indicating a real feeling of joy at having had one's sins forgiven. And if we don't understand that, then David uses the word "Happy" again. The joy in being able to live in fellowship with God once more is overwhelming.

David says what when he was separated from God because of his sin his "body wasted away" and he fell to "groaning all day long". Each day it felt like God's "hand was heavy" upon him and as if his strength had dried up.

All of us at some time or other have had an argument with someone and felt upset at what was was said and how things were left. It can leave a sinking feeling in the heart and the desire to avoid bumping into them accidently. This can be worse if the friendship has until this time been close. Only when we say sorry for our fault to the other person (whether or not we were solely to blame) will we get relief, and feel a sense of joy as we renew our friendship once more.

It can be far worse if through our sin we turn our back on God. Sometimes we are like the stubborn horse or mule mentioned in the psalm, and it can take a long while before we ask God's forgiveness. But when we acknowledge that we have strayed from His ways and humbly acknowledge our sin, it can be sheer joy to know that God in His love has welcomed us back once more.

↠ Then might we join with David in shouting for joy!

Father-God,
so often we turn away from You -
like the child who hides in the cupboard
thinking she cannot be seen by You -
but You know all those times
when we ignore Your will
and go our own way.
Forgive our mistakes
and help us to turn back to You,
believing that as a loving parent
You will welcome us back once more.
Amen.