FROM TROUBLE TO TRIUMPH

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PSALM 32

The truth of this psalm should be well-known to every Christian. It could be a help to every person. It can lead us from sorrow to singing, from depression to expression, from trouble to triumph.

I. OUR THREE PRONGED PROBLEM [V. 1-2]

1. Transgression [v. 1, I Jn. 1:10, 3:4, I Tm. 2:14] Lawlessness, deliberate sin, knowingly sinning, premeditatively violating what we know to be right (not accidently like Paul rebuking the high priest)

2. Sin [v. 1b, Rm. 3:23] Coming short, falling short of that which we should do. Do we pray enough? Witness enough? Give enough?. Study the Word enough? Hosea describes it as a "deceitful Bow" [7:16], like a rifle with bad sights. Makes you miss the target. Christ's perfection is the target by the way.

3. Iniquity [v. 2, Ps. 51:5, I Jn. 1:8, 3:6-9] Crookedness, corruption of nature, perverseness of our being. Jacob had a coniving nature and fooled his father with a goat skin. Years later his sons fooled him with goat's blood. Be sure your sin will find you out.

II. THE THREE-FOLD RESULT OF UNCONFESSED SIN [V. 3-4]

1. Misery [V. 3, Is. 48:16-22]

2. Pressure [v. 4a] A backslidden Christian asked, "How long will God sandpaper me?" Another Christian replied, "When you quit, He'll quit!"

3. Chastisement [v. 4b, I Cor. 11:30-32, Heb. 12:5-11] "It's up to us--- we can live for God and one day be taken to Heaven where He will crown us or live for self and He may crown us and then take us to Heaven."

III. GOD'S COUNTER MEASURES

1. SALVATION [V. 1-2]

-transgression is forgiven [v. 1a, Ps. 103:12] Taken away

-sin is covered [v. 1b, Acts 3:19 "blotted out"]

-imputeth not iniquity [v. 2a, Rm. 4:4-8] not charges with our own guilt

-in whose spirit there is no guile-[v. 2b, I Jn. 3:6-7, 9] God gives us a new nature

2. SECURITY [v. 6-7]

3. GUIDANCE [V. 8-9]

THE DIFFERENCE IS OBVIOUS [V. 10-11]