The Burden of Guilt

Psalm 32

Many of you might be familiar with the 19th century short story The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe.  In the story the narrator kills an older man living in his house, and buries his body beneath the floorboards.  Shortly after that he begins to hear the sound of a heartbeat, which gets louder and louder.  When the police come to question, they don’t seem to hear the sound, only the narrator does.  They seem satisfied that nothing has been done, but the increasingly louder heartbeats the narrator/murderer hears from the floorboards drive him crazy, and he ultimately confesses to the crime.  This story symbolizes what the burden of guilt that unconfessed sin can do to someone.  Many centuries earlier King David also knew about what unconfessed sin can do to someone, both physically, mentally, and spiritually.  He wrote about that in our psalm for this week.

Psalm 32 was written by King David, probably after having committed some sin, which is left unidentified here, one that he kept hidden and unconfessed for a while.  Ultimately though, after the burden became greater and greater, he confessed to the Lord and received both forgiveness and relief from the burden of his guilt.  True blessedness is found not in hiding sin, but in being honest before God and walking in His instruction.

Our psalm begins with David relating how blessed, how much relief is brought when one confesses their sins and receives God’s forgiveness (vs. 1-2).  Forgiveness is a divine act of grace.  It is not earned but is given to us through confession and faith.  As Christians, we can rejoice in the assurance of salvation that we have, and the cleansing from sin we receive through the Lord Jesus Christ (I John 1:9).

As our Scripture continues, David described how he felt during the time that he refused to admit and confess his sin to God (vs. 3-4).  His unconfessed sin started to physically affect his body due to the heavy burden of guilt he was carrying around.  The longer that we keep harboring these sins, the worse the burden of guilt becomes.  Old sins have a way of catching up with us, and old sins that have not been confessed and forsaken can lead to serious consequences.  Conviction by the Holy Spirit is merciful.  It drives us to repentance, and when we confess our sins, that restores our relationship with the Lord.

When we cry out to the Lord, and do not cover up our sins or make excuses for them, we will receive undeserved forgiveness (vs. 5).  We should not delay in repentance and confession of our sins.  God is faithful to forgive us immediately and completely.

King David continued by reminding us that we can always turn to the Lord in prayer (vs. 6-7).  Yahweh is not an absent God.  He is not one that sits remotely in some part of the universe, uncaring and unwilling to get involved with mankind, as some people believe.  He is one that can be found when we sincerely turn to Him.  God is our hiding place, Someone we can go to for spiritual and emotional shelter.  When fear interrupts our lives, and drives us to hide in dark despair, God comforts, strengthens, and calms our soul.  He not only forgives, but He protects and comforts the repentant.

God desires to guide His children, but we must be teachable (vs. 8-9).  David warned us to not be stubborn like a stubborn mule.  Horses, donkeys, and mules need to wear harnesses, bits, and bridles in order for them to do what we wish them to.  God warns us here not to be like that, to not be so stubborn that He needs to use stronger methods to keep us on the right path.  When we lose our stubbornness, and submit to God’s Word and Spirit, He will guide us.  We can trust God to be our Guide through the dangerous and confusing obstacles along life’s way.

Our psalm ends in verses 10-11 with a warning that those who refuse to follow the Lord, who refuse His Word and guidance, but continue in their wicked ways will face His judgment.  However those who have come to Jesus for salvation will be surrounded by His mercy.  We can live a life of praise and rejoicing in His mercy and forgiveness.

Are you feeling the weight of guilt and unconfessed sin on you?  Don’t be like that character in Poe’s horror story where his guilt drove him insane.  King David was beginning to feel that, but he knew the solution was to come to God in repentance and confession of his sins, and receive mercy and forgiveness.  Jesus is waiting to forgive and bless with mercy and love all those who come to Him.