March 22

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. - Psalms 32:1.

WHEN David looked around to find a truly happy man, he does not say, blessed is he whose grounds bring forth plentifully; blessed is the man who governs the nations with a nod; blessed is the man who achieves victory after victory; blessed is the man who is admired for genius and science. To many of these distinctions he himself was no stranger. He was a musician, a poet, a hero, and a king; but these distinctions were not sufficient to give him happiness; and therefore he prayed, “Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.” For “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, in thy name shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” And here he exclaims, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

The Psalmist here intimates that the enjoyment of forgiveness of sins is a present blessing; not that a man shall be blessed at some future time, but he says, “Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven,” &c. The man who realizes by faith that his transgressions are forgiven has the true notion of blessedness, and the reality. Happiness, present, future, and eternal, is hereby insured to him, and in the enjoyment of this distinguished privilege he has everlasting blessedness begun. They are indeed truly blessed to whom this blessing is assured; for, while our safety depends upon our state, our consolation principally depends upon our knowledge. How many of the Lord’s family, for want of this “full assurance of hope,” go mourning all their days!

Those who are favoured to “know the joyful sound” are blessed in their duties, blessed in their comforts, blessed in their trials. To them affliction has no curse, death has no sting, eternity has no terrors.