Psalm 32, like Psalm 51, is a Psalm of confession. It starts with the lines, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Rather than being a personal prayer though, this psalm is written more as an instruction manual for those in need of confession. It talks about the blessings of being forgiven and contrasts it with the guilt and burden of living under sin.
Our verse for today comes from the end of the psalm as the final statement in this area of confession. It talks of a rejoicing for those who are righteous and singing for those who are upright in heart.
It's an interesting end to a psalm that is all about confessing one's sin, to suddenly start speaking about those who are righteous or upright as it has just taught how all of us need to be confessing. However, in God's economy, an upright person or a righteous person is not someone who always gets it right (there isn't anyone like that). It also isn't referring to a person without sin (none of us are without sin).
It's referring to the forgiveness and grace offered to us. Us who are broken. Us who are dirty. Us who are sinful. Living post the New Testament – this concept has even greater meaning for us. We can understand that we are made righteous in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 reads:
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
The righteousness of God. Our sinfulness and failures were placed on Christ as he hung on the cross. Now we stand before God draped in Christ's perfection.
What a glorious exchange.
And it is in this knowledge and truth that we rejoice because we are righteous, that we sing because before God, we are upright in heart.
This is the final devotion for the year. It has been a joy to write for you and begin to learn this skill that Theo has honed over the years. I pray that as you prepare to welcome the Christ child once again, that you sing and rejoice, knowing that the child to be born Is the one who came to redeem, to save, to reconcile and show us the unfathomable depth of his love for us.
Blessings and love to you all.
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