How To Unburden Your Soul!
"When I kept silent about my sin,
my bones grew old through my
groaning all the day long."
Psalm 32: 3
We know the story of King David’s sins
of adultery with Bathsheba and accessory
to her husband’s murder (2 Samuel 11–12).
What is often overlooked is that David kept
silent about these sins for nearly a year
before confessing.
Psalm 51 is the great penitential psalm
David wrote in the wake of that tragedy.
But David wrote another psalm detailing
the destructive consequences of living
with unconfessed sin: Psalm 32.
We don’t know if Psalm 32 is connected
in any way with David’s failure. Whatever
the occasion, Psalm 32 serves as warning
to those who have sinned: Don’t be like a
stubborn animal who must be compelled
to action (verse 9).
Rather, let God’s mercy draw you to Him
who is ready and willing to forgive: “I said,
‘I will confess my transgressions to the
Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of
my sin” (verse 5).
Instead of living with guilt and shame,
unburden your soul to God: “Rejoice...
and shout for joy, all you upright in
heart!” (verse 11)
"The beginning of
repentance
is the confession of guilt."
John Calvin
