Read: Psalm 32

You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (v. 5)

A man came to his doctor with a variety of symptoms: headaches, insomnia, upset stomach. No physical cause was found. The doctor said, “Unless you tell me what’s on your conscience, I can’t help you.” The man confessed as executor of his father’s estate, he had been defrauding his brother of his inheritance. The wise doctor made the man write to his brother asking forgiveness, plus enclosing a check as the first step in repayment. The doctor then walked him to the mail chute in the hallway. As the letter disappeared, the man broke into tears and said, “Thank you, I think I’m cured.” And he was.

King David would understand. After his awful sin with Bathsheba, he later wrote, “I acknowledged my sin to you” (v. 5). David did not seek out a medical doctor, a chiropractor, a massage specialist, a psychologist or psychiatrist. Surely there were forerunners of all these professional helpers in David’s day, only the titles have changed. This is not to say Christians never need professional help. It is to say, when we struggle through days carrying heavy loads in body and spirit, our first step should be to examine ourselves. Have we committed serious wrongs and not confessed them to the Lord? If so, like David, we will experience the Lord’s hand not as lifting us up but crushing us. When we do confess, we, like David, will experience the blessing of sins forgiven and joy returning (v. 11).

Prayer:

Lord, because you forgive my sins I rejoice in you.

Author: Chic Broersma

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