Covering Your Sin

Who's going to cover your sin?

You?

Or God?

I was encouraged by Psalm 32 this morning.

King David knows what it's like to try to cover up your sin. And he knows it doesn't work. God opposes the proud:

For when I kept silent, my bones 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.

But, David also knows that God gives grace to the humble who don't try to cover their sin.

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Result? The LORD, by his blood-bought covenant mercy, covers our sin.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit (i.e. the deceit of covering up your sin).

David then wants you to be blessed like him:

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

Don't be silent about your sin. Acknowledge it to God. The blood of Jesus was shed to COVER, to atone for, that sin. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn 1:9). Don't veer off into deceitful denial. It will not go well for you.

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

You can hide your sin and be surrounded by fears of exposure. Or you can expose your sin and have God as your hiding place, surrounded by the joyful shouts of deliverance.

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

You can run from God, searching for a way to avoid his omniscient eye. Or you can run to God, and his omniscient eye will watch over you as you go his way.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Who's going to cover your sin?

You?

Or God?

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

When you experience this blessing of a cleansed slate and a clean conscience, you will be glad: 

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!