Psalm 32:1-5
HOW TO SOLVE THE SIN PROBLEM
Intro: Various people have various problems. Some
people struggle financially, others struggle with their
health, some have emotional and mental problems. If
we were to open the floor to discussion, we could all
share our own sad stories of pain, heartache, suffering
and trouble. While it's true that we all have burdens
which vary from person to person, there is one common
denominator. There is one reality with which we all
struggle day by day: We all must deal with sin!
If we were perfectly honest, we would all have to
admit to some besetting sin. Whether we like to think
about it or not, whether we own up to is or not, we all
struggle with sin on a daily basis. Now, when we, as
believers sin, we will have to deal with it. Sin, in the life
of the believer, will cause such problems that it must be
dealt with. And, there are only two ways to deal with
sin; man's way and God's way! If we deal with sin
man's way, we will try to hide it and secret that sin away
so that we can relish it and enjoy it some more, or just
so that we can pretend that it never happened. This
method always leads to disaster and possibly to death,
1 John 5:16. The other method is God's way and it is
the method which is discussed in this passage. When
we handle our sin God's way, then it is handled
correctly and it will cease to bring pain and destruction
into our lives.
In these verses, David is dealing with the sin he
committed with Bathsheba. He tells us how he handled
his sin and how he received cleansing. By the way, this
Psalm is most likely a companion to Psalm 51. In that
Psalm, David offers his prayer of confession and
repentance. Here he shares the lessons he learned in
dealing with his sin with you and me. He is also fulfilling
a vow he made to the Lord, Psalm 51:3, "Then will I
teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto thee." Let's look at these lessons
David learned and let them teach us HOW TO SOLVE
THE SIN PROBLEM.
I. V. 3-4 THE PROBLEM OF CONCEALED SIN
(Ill. Unconfessed sin produces problems in three
realms of life.)
A. v. 3 The Physical Realm - David tells us that his
sin produced problems in his flesh. He says that
he became like and old man physically. The sad
fact is this: Sin will take a physical toll on the
sinner! I am not just referring to the drunk or the
drug addict. I am not just referring to the person
who abuses the body with tobacco or even
overeating. I am referring to the toll that is
inflicted on the body by the sinner as he tries to
cover up his sin. Notice that David refers to his
"roaring". This word refers to the cry of distress.
While David's sin was unconfessed, there was
something in him that was crying out in distress.
There was something that was seeking for relief.
While he tried to hide his sin, the worry and fear
that he would be found out took a physical toll on
his body. I am convinced that many people who
spend a lot of money at the doctor and at the
pharmacy would do better to spend some time at
the altar confessing their sins before God!
B. v. 4a The Spiritual Realm - Whether we like to
think about it or not, there is a heavy spiritual
price to pay for sin in our lives! David says that
God's "hand was heavy" upon him. This refers
to chastisement! Whether you like it or not, or
whether you believe it or not, God will chastise
His children when they entertain sin in their lives,
Pro. 3:11-12; Rev. 3:19; Heb. 12:5-11. If we
refuse to deal with our sins, then the Lord will.
(Ill. Of course, there is a practical aspect to this
matter of the spiritual problem of sin in the
believer's life. When there is unconfessed sin in
a life, the prayer life is hindered, Psa. 66:18.
The shout is gone! The power is absent! The
appetite for the things of God is gone!
(Ill. Psa. 34:8. There are only two classes of
people who do not have an appetite: those who
are dead and those who are sick! So, if your
spiritual appetite is missing, you are either sick
or dead!)
(Ill. This is a dangerous situation! Imagine not
being able to pray for people! Imagine others
watching your wayward life and learning how not
to live for God! Imagine your children never
hungering for the things of God because they
never saw you living for Jesus! Spiritual
problems abound when there is unconfessed sin
in the believers life!)
C. v. 4b The Emotional Realm - David tells us that
he has dried up! Just like the ground after and
extended drought, he has dried completely up.
What a picture of the believer who has sin in his
life! This is a picture of one who has lost his joy!
This brings to mind problems in the emotional
realm of life! Now, I know as well as anyone that
there are some people who have legitimate
emotional problems. Sometimes the chemistry
of the brain goes haywire and there are
problems that result. However, there are many
people today who are suffering emotionally
simply because they have unconfessed sin in
their lives. They are always worried, wondering
when the chastisement of God will come about
in their lives. They are afraid that somehow the
Lord will cast them away. They are nervous and
they are troubled and they have no real, lasting
joy in their hearts. Why? SIN! Friends, sin will
steal your joy and leave you broken and bleeding
spiritually. Notice what David requested from the
Lord after he had sinned with Bathsheba, Psalm
51:12. David had no joy! He was suffering
emotionally because of his sin and he needed
help!
(Ill. It's a fact, sin will cause you problems in all three
of these areas of your life! Some of you are there
right now! You are having problems physically,
spiritually and emotionally and they can all be traced
back to some unconfessed, un-dealt with sin in your
life. You really need to hear what David says next.
Why? Because if we will hear David and will do with
our sins as he did with his, then we will find joy
replacing brokenness. We will find peace replacing
worry. We will find hope replacing fear. We will find
our relationship with the Lord restored.)
I. The Problem Of Concealed Sin
II. V. 5 THE PATTERN FOR CONFRONTING SIN
(Ill. The pattern for confronting sin in our lives
revolves around the word "confess." The way to
get sin taken care of is to confess sin. What does it
mean to confess? The word itself means "to throw
down or to cast down." In the New Testament, the
word confess carries the idea of "agreement".
When we confess a sin, we are throwing it down
before the Lord and saying the same thing about
that He has said. This verse reveals how confession
is to be practiced by the child of God.)
(Ill. In confessing his sins, David used three words
to describe the mess he had gotten himself into.
These three words describe sin in all of its
grossness and ugliness.)
A. Confess The Existence Of Our Sins - David
says that he "acknowledged" that there was sin
in his life. The word means "to know and
perceive and to make known to others."
Basically, this word teaches us that we must face
up to the fact of our own sin, and then we must
admit that sin before God! My friends, this is the
first step toward change and forgiveness!
Unless we come to the place where we can
admit the fact that we have sinned, we will never
be made whole! Even if you never come to the
place where you can be honest about the sin
that is in your life, you need to know that God
has already let everyone in on the fact that none
of us are perfect, 1 John 8, 10. Our sin is a fact,
but it will never be dealt with until it is admitted
by the person who is guilty of it.
(Ill. The first word David used to describe his sin
was the word Sins. This refers to Man's
Deviation. The word means "to missing the
mark." It is an archery term that refers to an
arrow missing the target, Rom. 3:23. Who
among us would not have to admit that we are
guilty of missing the mark of God's holiness?)
B. Confess The Extent Of Our Sins - We need to
get honest about the fact that sin has invaded
every nook and cranny of our lives! It prevents
us from being the servants of God we ought to
be. David simply did what always needs to be
done with sin, he pulled back the covers and
revealed his sin in all of its ugliness and its
rottenness. David got honest about his sin and
that is what it takes to get it made right,
Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins
shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy."
(Ill. The second word David uses is the word Transgression. This refers to Man's Defiance.
It means "to step over the boundaries". We
commit transgressions when we know something
is wrong and we do it anyway. It is high-handed
sin and it is open rebellion against God - Isa.
53:6. Many of us would have to admit that we
are guilty of stepping over the boundaries God
has placed in our lives.
C. Confess The Error Of Our Sins - The third
word used by David is the word Iniquity. This
word speaks of Man's Distortion - This word
means "crookedness, or that which is bent."
It refers to the natural bent in man toward evil!
Our old sinful nature is always striving to do that
which is wrong. This was Paul's problem - Rom.
7:13-25, and it is our problem as well! All of us
should be at the place spiritually where we can
honestly say, "There is something in me that is
prone to evil and often I am guilty of giving in
to those desires."
(Ill. For just a moment, let me remind you what the
word confess means. The Hebrew word means "to
throw down or to cast down." The Greek word
means "to agree, or to say the same thing."
When we put this together, we learn exactly what
God wants us to do with our sins. He wants us to
come to the place where we are able to say the
same thing about them that He says. He wants us
to confess that they are evil. That they are wrong.
That they are wicked. Then, He wants us to cast
them down. Whatever that sin, or sins, in your life
may be, the Lord wants you to get honest about it
and cast that thing down before Him. Until you are
willing to do that, you will never experience His
forgiveness and His bless in your life!)
I. The Problem Of Concealed Sin
II. The Pattern For Confronting Sin
III. V. 1-2 THE POWER OF CONFESSING SIN
(Ill. What does the Lord say to those who are willing
to confess their sins? The first two verses of this
chapter answer that question. Notice that David
says that the person who has dealt with his sins is
"blessed." This word means "Happy!' It is an
interjection. What this word tells us is that there is
joy for the person who will deal with his sins after
God's pattern. Notice three blessings that come into
the life of the one who will be honest about his sins
and will cast them down before the Lord.)
A. It Brings Cleansing - David tells us that those
who will confess their sins will experience
"forgiveness" and will have their sins "covered".
The word for "forgiveness" is an interesting
word. It means "to lift up and bear away."
When we bring our sin to God and tell the truth
about, He will extend His forgiveness to us. That
sin will be lifted up and taken away from our
lives. Along with that sin, the penalty of that sin
will also be removed. (Ill. Please note: you will
still reap what you have sown - Gal. 6:9!) This is
a promise that is reaffirmed in the New
Testament. John writes the following: "If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. That is a
promise that every child of God ought to take
advantage of this morning! Remember, if you
will deal with your sins, God won't have to, 1
Cor. 11:31!
B. It Brings Closeness - Verse 2 speaks of God
not "imputing" iniquity to a person. This is an
accounting word and means "to account or to
reckon." This simply reminds us that when our
sins have been taken care of according to God's
pattern, He does not hold those sins against us.
In other words, there are no barriers between us
and God. We are able to come into His
presence again have intimate fellowship with
God. No wonder David said that such a person
is "Happy!"
What happens when sin is confessed is that
the believer is forgiven and is brought into the
presence of God. There is a restoration of
fellowship and a resumption of blessing. God
can hear the forgiven saint. He will move in and
through their life again. He will draw near to
those who draw near to Him, James 4:8.
C. It Brings Consecration - Notice that David says
the forgiven person has no "guile" in his spirit.
That is, there is no more "treachery". There are
no more attempt to pull anything over on God.
The sinner is honest and, as a result, his whole
life grows cleaner and more holy before the Lord.
If you sincerely want to live for the Lord with a
pure heart, the first step is to get honest about
your sins and get them out into the open. When
that happens, they will be forgiven and you will
be restored to fellowship with the Lord. Your
appetite for the spiritual will be renewed and you
will grow stronger in the Lord as a result.
Confession will make you clean and it will help
you to live clean as well.
Conc: Please notice that by the end of this Psalm,
David had his shout back! He was able to worship and
praise the Lord again. Why? Because he solved his sin
problem the right way. He told the truth about his sin
and cast it down before the Lord. He got it into the
open and God forgave him!
If you are alive this morning, I know that God has
revealed some sin or the other in your life. Isn't it time
you came to the place where you just got honest with
the Lord? Isn't it time you just came before Him and
told Him everything? Isn't it time you came and
experienced His forgiveness and restoration? Isn't it
time you got back to the place where the Lord, His
church, His Word, and His worship meant something to
you? Isn't it time to get the sin problem in your life
taken care of?
There are some here this morning that have never
been saved. You need to come before the Lord too.
What you need to do is confess that you are a sinner
and acknowledge your need for salvation through Jesus
Christ.
Wherever this message has found you living this
morning, I know there was a word for you. Will you
honor the call of God in your heart and come before
Him right now and get those things settled? If you need
forgiveness, it is available right now. Will you get
honest about your sins? Will you solve the sin problem
now?
