Monday, 6 July 2020
Title: Blessed is the man
By: Ps Cheng Cheung

Psalm 32: 1-5
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Most people judge many things by outward appearances. Many measure a person’s “blessings” by their portfolio of assets, or by their success in their profession, or by the education and learning they have acquired or by their uninterrupted good health. Of course, one’s values and worldview play a part in determining what one considers blessings. In his opening words the psalmist tells us who he thinks is really blessed and truly happy in life. Psalm 32 is a joyful song sung by a pardoned sinner.

Sin. Are we able to explain what it is in simple terms? In verses 1 and 2, David used three words to describe sin

Transgression is crossing a line, defying authority.
Sin is falling short of or missing a mark.
Iniquity speaks of crookedness, perverseness, moral distortion.

Then, he used three terms to describe what God does to put away sin.

Forgiven is the lifting of a burden or a debt.
Covered is the idea of sacrificial blood covering sin.
Does not Impute is when the red mark in one’s book does not count against him.

And in whose spirit there is no deceit. The prior life of sin and double-living was over for David, the repentant and forgiven sinner. The forgiven life needs no more deceit to cover one’s ways – no guile, no fraud, no untruthfulness, no masquerade, no falsehood, no deception. Praise be to God! How blessed and joyful is this man. This is what David recounts to us, but how did he get here after his sin of adultery and murder? What did he go through?

God is truth (John 14:6), so he loves honesty. That’s why he tells us (through David), “Blessed is the man . . . in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psalm 32:2). David knew both the blessedness of honesty and the wretchedness of dishonesty. Verses 3 and 4 recount what he went through when he kept silent: a strange ageing of his bones, groaning, God’s heavy hand, a lack of vitality. He suffered in his conscience, but was not honest enough to confess it, even to himself. So long as he did not acknowledge his sin and remained silent about it, yet quite aware that he had sinned grievously, he groaned away.

Does this sound familiar? Do you not experience similar sensations in your spirit and body when things are not right, when there is sin or wilful disobedience in your walk with the Lord? When David was dishonest with God and men, it was like a wasting disease.

So, what did David do?
When he came clean with God and men (verse 5), it was health and refreshment to his soul. It is a great mercy when God rests his hand heavy upon us because of our sinful, dishonest living. And the longer we walk with him, the more rigorously he demands we live truthfully before him. He wants truth to reign in every part of us because he wants us to enjoy full freedom — to increasingly know Him. And we can never really know God until we are willing to be truthful with him and for him. The person who does not conceal his sins, but confesses them to God will find the tremendous happiness of forgiveness, a clean conscience and peace with God.

Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, let the joy of your forgiveness overflow my heart in praise. I thank you that you knew that I needed help when I drifted away in sin. You extended your hand to me and invited me tenderly back into your fold.

Yet, I knew deep within that I had to confess my sin and waywardness to restore our relationship. Thank you for your forgiveness. Restore to me the joy of my salvation.

In Jesus’ precious Name. Amen.

每日灵粮
星期一，2020年7月6日
标题：有福的人
讲员：张祯祥传道
翻译：巫惠如姐妹

诗篇32: 1-5
得赦免其过、遮盖其罪的，这人是有福的！
凡心里没有诡诈，耶和华不算为有罪的，这人是有福的！

大多数人会凭外表判断事情。许多人以个人资产、职业成就、教育背景，或者身体健康来衡量一个人的幸福指数。当然，一个人对幸福的定义取决于他的价值观和世界观。诗人在诗篇32的开头叙述他认为谁才是有福并真正快乐的人。诗篇32是被赦免的罪人所唱的欢乐诗。

罪。我们能否精简地解释它是什么？在第1和2节中，大卫用三个词来描述罪：

过犯：越界，藐视权威
罪恶：未达标准
罪孽：狡诈、任性、道德沦丧

之后，他用三个词来描述上帝为除去罪恶所做的：

宽恕：减轻负担或债务
遮盖：用血遮盖罪恶的概念
不被耶和华算为有罪：书中的红印不会带来惩罚

他心中没有欺诈。过犯得赦免、罪恶被饶恕的大卫已经结束了之前的罪恶和双重生活。被宽恕的生命不需要再以欺骗来掩盖自己的行为 — 不再有狡诈、欺诈、不真实、伪装、谎言、欺骗。赞美上帝！这人真是有福！这是大卫对我们说的，但是，在犯奸淫和谋杀之后，他是怎么来到这里的？他经历了什么？

上帝是真理（约翰14:6），所以他喜爱诚实。这就是为什么他（通过大卫）告诉我们，「人凡心里没有诡诈…这人是有福的! 」（2节） 大卫知道诚实的福气，也知道不诚实的悲惨。第3和第4节讲述了他保持沉默时经历的事情：骨头枯干、唉哼、上帝沉重的手在他身上、精力耗尽。他受良心责备，但又不够诚实，甚至不跟自己坦白。当他不认罪，但在沉默中却很清楚自己的罪，他痛哭流涕。

这听起来熟悉吗？当出现问题时，或你与主同行却犯罪或故意不服从时，你身心灵难道没有经历过类似的感觉吗？当大卫对上帝和人不诚实的时候，就像是消耗性疾病。

那么，大卫做了什么？
当他对上帝和人（5节）坦白，他整个人神清气爽。当上帝因为我们罪恶生活而将他的手重压在我们身上时，这是极大的恩慈。我们和他同行得越久，他就越要求我们在他面前如实生活。他希望真理统管我们生命的每一部分，因为他希望我们享有完全的自由 — 逐渐了解他。若我们不愿意为了主而认罪，我们就永远无法真正地了解上帝。那些不隐瞒自己罪过并向上帝认罪的人将会找到宽恕所带来的喜乐，无亏的良心与平安。

今日祈祷：

天父，愿那蒙赦免的喜乐满溢我心。当我在罪中偏行己路时，谢谢你知道我需要你。你伸出手来，温柔地邀请我回到你的怀抱。

然而，我内心深处知道，我必须承认我的罪过和任性，修复我们的关系。谢谢你的宽恕。求你使我仍得救恩之乐。

奉耶稣宝贵的名字祷告，阿门。