Confess Your Sins—and Sing!
August 9, 2021 • by Nana Dolce
I remember the day I faced a judge in court. It didn’t involve a criminal—or even civil—trial. I went in to dispute a parking ticket. My case was simple and yet my confrontation with the judge was intimidating. I was called to the stand. I stated my name and home address for the record before describing the details of the parking violation. If this judge was going to clear me of my hefty fine, I had to prove my innocence. Interestingly, the opposite happens in Psalm 32.
David, our psalmist, stands before a great Judge in Psalm 32. But he does so to argue his guilt—not his innocence. David admits his sins and instead of a conviction, this Judge grants forgiveness and full pardon. What kind of Judge is this? What criminal justice system on earth acquits a confessing offender? How should we understand this passage? How does Psalm 32 encourage a Christian to make bold confessions of sin before the holy Judge of heaven?
Psalm 32 doesn’t make light of sin. At the same time, it reminds us that God’s grace is bigger than the ugliest sin we could acknowledge. The passage teaches at least three truths: 1) We sin in both big and small ways; 2) our unconfessed sins bring heavy consequences; and 3) full confession brings complete forgiveness and joy in God’s presence.
We Sin in Big and Small Ways
The Psalms have been called Israel’s hymn book. They are a collection of songs, and every song needs a good refrain. Psalm 32’s refrain shows up in its first two verses and it speaks of sin and forgiveness: “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.”
You may notice that our psalmist uses three different words for sin in these verses: sin, transgression, and iniquity. The meaning of these different words is essentially the same. So why use separate language to convey the same idea? Because repetition in Hebrew poetry is meant to give emphasis. Together, these words sum up the diversity of our various sins.
“Blessed is the one whose sin—big, small, and everything in-between—is forgiven! ”
Christians on this side of heaven are saints who sin in both big and small ways. We commit “respectable” offenses like little white lies, gluttony, and people-pleasing. But big transgressions are not beyond us either. Christians can fall into the temptation of sins like pornography, racial prejudice, and adultery. David’s point in Psalm 32:1-2 is this: Blessed is the one whose sin—big, small, and everything in-between—is forgiven!
Notice that David also describes God’s pardon of sin in three ways here: Our transgression is forgiven, our sin is covered, and the LORD counts no iniquity against us. There is a complete acquittal for the sinner who brings her great and small offenses before the Judge who pardons the guilty.
There Are Heavy Consequences For Unconfessed Sin
David travels down memory lane in the next two verses of the psalm. He remembers life prior to verses 1-2—the days before he came clean. David describes the painful consequences of hiding his sins from God. He writes in Psalm 32:3-4: “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.”
A second feature of Hebrew poetry is its vivid language. These verses paint a striking picture. David is silent about his sins, but his body is crying out. His bones are wasting away in groaning all day long. And we see in verse 4 that “all day” means all day. It comprises both day and night. There is no escape for this psalmist. Awake or at rest, God’s heavy hand is relentless. It remains upon him like fierce heat that dries up water. David’s strength is sapped.
Have you experienced the agony of Psalm 32:3-4? Have you felt the heaviness of unconfessed sin? Often the burden of our guilt remains, no matter how much we distract ourselves with Netflix, shopping, or social media. We can justify our sins—especially the “little ones” like gossip, quiet lust, and envy—but never shake the burden. And in many ways, this is a blessing!
In his grace, God doesn’t leave David to his silent sins. His heavy, relentless, and strength-sapping hand stays on him. And this is a means of grace. Because the worst thing for a quiet and self-deceived sinner is to be left to herself. Friend, if we groan over our big and small sins alike, then let’s praise God for the discomfort that accompanies our unconfessed sins. Our Father is the faithful Judge whose hand of discipline remains day and night on those he loves.
“There is a complete acquittal for the sinner who brings her great and small offenses before the Judge who pardons the guilty.”
Full Confession Brings Forgiveness and Fullness of Joy.
As we move to verse 5 of the psalm, we see that God’s hand of discipline has brought the psalmist to a willing confession. The veil of self-deception falls off and the silence breaks. Psalm 32:5 says: “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.”
David uses repeated synonyms again in verse 5. He describes his confession of sin in three different ways: He acknowledges his sin. He does not cover his iniquity. And he confesses his transgression to the Lord. The verse depicts a sinner with much to say to God. This isn’t some trite “I’m only human and God knows I’m not perfect” kind of admission. No, David resolves to hold nothing back. He tells it all—great and small. And he is forgiven all, great and small.
Next, the forgiven psalmist appeals to God and charges his audience. He says in verse 6: “Therefore, let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found.” David speaks of those already declared godly. He reminds us that we confess our sins—not to appear righteous—but as the fruit of godliness already secured for us.
Our great Judge does not count our sin against us because that judgement fell on Jesus. We stand forgiven in God’s courtroom because his demand for justice has been satisfied by the blood of Christ. He pardons us by virtue of Christ’s sinless life and death on our behalf. You see, unlike David, Jesus had no sin or transgressions to confess. He was and is forever the sinless man in whose Spirit there is no deceit. And yet, he suffered the criminal sentence that was our due.
Friend, if your trust is in Christ today, then David’s prayer in Psalm 32:6 extends to you. Dear godly Christian, offer your prayers of confession to the Judge who satisfies your debt and declares you righteous. You can trust this Judge with your sins—however small, great, or ugly. There is none like him and the blessedness of forgiveness is joy in His presence. See the last verse of Psalm 32: “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
Nana Dolce is the Associate Director of Women’s Workshops for the Charles Simeon Trust. She trains women Bible teachers across the globe. Nana’s first book, Old Testament Women & Christ, the Promised Seed (10ofThose) is forthcoming. She has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Palmer Theological Seminary and is invited to instruct at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.’s Women’s Teaching Lab. Nana is thankful to serve in her local church and enjoys writing for several ministries including Christianity Today and Risen Motherhood. Born in Ghana, she lives today in Washington, DC with her husband Eric, and their two children. Her prayer is to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:9-10).
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