024 RIC Biblical Articles - The way to joy in God
024 RIC- Biblical Articles The way to joy in God April 4, 2025
Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Greetings, precious soul,
There is one truth that is important for every person. It does not matter where you come from, what you believe, or who you are. The Bible says: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 3:23–24).
This is the center of the Gospel. Paul and David both show us our problem: we have sinned. Deep inside, every person knows there is guilt. Not just toward others, but most of all toward God.
But people try to hide their guilt. Some stay very busy. Some do good works. Others just try not to think about it. But Psalm 32 shows that hiding sin does not bring peace. David says he felt sick and weak when he tried to cover up his sin. It made him feel empty inside.
But he also shows the other way: ‘I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.’ This is the way to find forgiveness. Not by working hard, but by confessing our sin and trusting God's grace. That is why this psalm is also a call to you: run to the Lord while you still can. Do not hide anymore. Let God surround you with His mercy.
Psalm 32 is a teaching psalm. The Holy Spirit gave David the words. David begins: ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.’ The word ‘blessed’ in the Hebrew language means ‘happy’. In the Bible, it speaks of joy and peace that come from being right with God.
But David also had other times in his life. He says in verses 3–4: ‘When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.’
“When I kept silent”—this is the voice of a soul that closes itself to God. Not because God is far, but because the heart refuses to confess. The weight of sin is not just an idea — it becomes a real burden that affects the whole person. ‘My bones grew old,’ David says. The joy of being close to God was gone. His silence brought no peace, only groaning, all day long. But then David could say: ‘I acknowledged my sin to You… and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.’ What mercy! The hand of God that first pressed down, now brought healing.
Then David acknowledged his sin before the Lord. That was the turning point. No more hiding, no more silence, but an open confession of guilt. He did not conceal his sin, knowing that nothing is hidden from the Lord. He said: ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And the Lord forgave.
Not without a sacrifice, but because of the promised Lamb who would take away the sin of the world. David’s forgiveness was not something small. It pointed forward to the blood of Christ. What a comfort in David’s testimony: the one who confesses finds grace — because of Him.
David calls every God-fearing person to pray to the Lord, especially now that He may be found. In times of trouble, God is a safe place. Not just a place — but a Person. David’s confession brought him under the covering of God's mercy. Where guilt used to press on him, now songs of praise are heard.
After forgiveness comes guidance. God says: ‘I will instruct you.’ He is not a far-away teacher. He is a close Shepherd. His people are not driven like animals, but led like children — with love. Those who turn away from God will suffer. But those who trust in Him are surrounded by His mercy. That is why David ends with joy. The burden is gone. The sin is covered. The heart is free to sing. Not because of what we do, but because of what He has done.
This psalm brings deep comfort. Forgiveness is not only about taking away guilt. It is about restoring our relationship with God. A heart that was silent and heavy now becomes a heart full of praise. David did not stay in his failure. He found a new path through God's faithfulness — a path of grace, of teaching, and of joy.
We also see something of God's heart in this psalm. God does not want empty religion. He wants truth in the heart. He does not desire forced obedience. He wants willing hearts. His leading is not a heavy burden. It is a gift. Those who confess their sin are not rejected — they are welcomed with grace.
God’s grace brings peace to the mind and joy to the heart. Let your life be a song of praise because He forgives. Admitting your sin and confessing it to God is the true path to joy in Him.