December 5

“Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered!” — Ps 32:1

True blessedness can never come to anyone–until forgiveness has come. Unforgiven sin lies as a heavy curse upon a life. No other favor or prosperity is of any avail while sin remains uncancelled. But with forgiveness, comes all the blessedness of life and glory. When we are forgiven, we become at once God’s children, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ to all the rich inheritance of eternal life. All the blessings of salvation are in this one.

We may study also with profit the word “cover.” There is one way of covering sin which brings no blessing. We must not try to cover our own sin. “He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Sins that we cover–are not put away. They are like the quiet fires in the volcano, ready to burst out any moment in all their terribleness. But when God covers our sins they are put out of sight forever out of our sight, the world’s sight, God’s sight.

In one place God says he will remember our sins against us no more. The covering is complete and final. The sins are covered by the atonement of Christ. “All we like sheep have gone astray; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all.” If our sins were laid on Jesus Christ–they are covered forever, and will never rise up against us.