Guilt-Free Living

Psalms 32
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
(Psalm 32:1)

Guilt is a real problem in our society. It’s a major cause of mental illness. People can become trapped and
overwhelmed by a terrible sense of guilt. Guilt can destroy lives and is the cause of numerous mental health
problems that can be quite severe. It can make life not worth living and is often the root of suicide.

But, guilt and shame are not only problems that plague the mentally ill. It’s something that every one of us
struggles with from time to time. I know I have my share of guilty feelings for some things I’ve done in the past.
Guilt is universal and inescapable. Everyone deals with it; everyone has skeletons in their closet:

The story is told that Noel Coward, the well known playwright, as a prank, once sent an identical anonymous
letter to 10 notable men in London. The note said, "We know what you have done. If you don’t want to be
exposed, leave town." Within 6 months, all 10 men that received the letter, moved!

Guilt is real…because sin is real. Psychiatry deals with the issue constantly, but really has no answers. It can
only justify the sin to make it seem ok or it tries to eliminate guilt by shifting the blame to our parents or to
society in general. Guilt has mental and emotional consequences, but it’s not primarily a psychological
problem. It’s a moral problem. It’s a spiritual problem. It’s not an issue for me and my shrink. It’s an issue for
me and my God.

So the question before us today is “What do we do about sin and guilt in our lives?” Does God have an answer
that will alleviate our guilt and shame? This is a question that David found himself asking. You recall the story
of David and Bathsheeba… it reads like a script from a soap opera.

David, although he should have been out taking care of business, found himself lounging around the palace.
He happened to notice a beautiful naked lady across the street, bathing on her rooftop. He ended up having an
affair with the woman who, it turns out, was married to one of David’s valiant soldiers. The woman turns up
pregnant and David tries every deceitful thing he could think of to hide his guilt… even to the point of plotting
murder against the husband and taking Bathsheeba for himself.

But something happened to David that he didn’t count on. He was crushed by the weight of his guilt. Yes, the
sordid details got out to the people of his kingdom. But, that wasn’t the problem. David knew that God was
aware of his great sin. He was guilty before God! He had no recourse but to seek God and deal with his guilt.

Guilt is the problem and forgiveness is the issue. The psychologist’s advice to forgive yourself is not enough
because the sin, any sin is ultimately committed against God. We need God’s forgiveness. David found it and
he tells is in this Psalm that it’s available and free. All we have to do is come.
What is Man’s Greatest Need?
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.
Unfinished Business, Charles Sell, Multnomah, 1989, pp. 121ff

Blessed Forgiveness (1-2)

Like the sermon on the mound, the psalm begins with several ‘beatitudes.’ Blessed - sometimes translated as
Happy. But, that doesn’t fully convey the sense of the word. "possessing an inward contentedness and joy that
is not affected by the physical circumstances" It’s complete state of well-being… all is right.

Wouldn’t that be great? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to relieve any sense of guilt and shame in your life and
experience that all is right in your world?

The Nature of Sin:

1. Rebellion against God
2. Missing the mark
3. Twisted, perverted acts

The Nature of Forgiveness:

1. To carry, bear, lift up
2. To cover
3. To impute, account, reckon

Anguish: The Results of Guilt (3-4)

Yes, unresolved guilt brings consequences and suffering. It manifests itself in any and all areas of our lives. It
ravages our bodies, it eats at our emotions, destroys our relationships, and stands as a wall between us and
our God.

David experienced all of these symptoms. He was miserable. He was in desperate need of relief and
rejuvenation. Sin has to be dealt with, guilt must be eliminated if we’re ever going to approach anything like
that state of blessedness that David speaks of.

Karl Menninger, the famed psychiatrist, once said that if he could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals
that their sins were forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk out the next day!
Today in the Word, March 1989, p. 8.

The Consequences:
1. Physical
2. Emotional
3. Spiritual
Confession: My Response to Guilt (vs. 5)
So David was under tremendous stress; he was suffering on every level. What could he do?

The Process:
1. Go to God
2. Acknowledge
3. Be Open - Don’t Cover up
4. Confess - See the sin as God sees it
5. Recognize God's standards and their application to me

The Application:
1. God is Faithful and Just to respond to such a confession
2. Guilt is relieved

Sin Enslaves, Forgiveness Frees

Richard Hoefler’s book Will Daylight Come" includes a homey illustration of how sin enslaves and forgiveness
frees.

A little boy visiting his grandparents as given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he
could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma’s back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an
impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead.

The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister
watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day, Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Johnny told me he
wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the
duck! So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Sally to
help make supper.” Sally smiled and said, “That’s all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it.” Again she
whispered, “Remember the duck.” Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, finally he couldn’t stand it. He
confessed to Grandma that he’d killed the duck.

“I know, Johnny,” she said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing.
Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.

- Steven Cole
Richard Hoefler, Will Daylight Come'
Counsel: Advice to the Guilty (6-11)
1. Don’t Delay

2. Seek Security in God

3. Be “Guidable”, Not Stubborn

4. Choose Blessing, Not Suffering

5. Celebrate!