“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalms 32:1-2)

The Scripture is full of understatement. Things are said that, when seasoned with a little thought, become the most delicious and satisfying food for the soul. Such is this opening statement in Psalm 32.

It is not uncommon to feel that peace comes when all is well. After all, it is pain and sorrow and trouble that robs us of what little peace we might enjoy. Yes, but there is another peace, and a much greater one, that can be known only when we admit that all is not well.

All is not well. Human history bears this out, daily life bears this out and our own hearts bear this out. As Hamlet said, “The world is out of joint”. Something is terribly wrong. We long for justice, for equity, for kindness, for generosity, for truth but these elude us in this world in which we spend our short lives. Such virtues do not arise from the air, they must exist in our own hearts before our history will shine with their splendour. We long for them. We know their rightness and goodness. But our sad story is of failure upon failure, shattered hopes, dreams from which we wake only to face the grim reality.

It’s no use pointing at the faults of others when we are as much the problem as anyone else. Why is there this great contradiction between what we want to be and what we are?

Why? Because we are of Adam’s race. We are not as God made man to be. We have fallen and His creation has been corrupted, leaving only the memory of what we ought to be. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven.” Oh, what a blessing is here! To confess my sin, my need, my brokenness and then to find forgiveness! To find my sin covered, out of God’s sight and consideration! He, who sees all, neither blames nor accuses nor condemns me! I need no longer hide my shame. I need no longer lie to myself or to my God. I need no longer deceive.

Is there a blessing greater than this? Heaven is open to me, the Eternal God will be my shepherd through this life and I will see His face! I can know peace, lasting peace, because I am forgiven.

Peace. Yes, but a strange peace, known only by those who confess that all is not well in their own heart and life. A strange peace purchased through a horrific and bloody death on a cross. A peace known to those who turn to and trust in the One who died that death, our death, and rose again.

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11)