Tuesday 27th January

Psalm 32 vs 1 - 2 & 11
 
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
 
Despite the Coronavirus and the disruption it has caused the wheels of government, and specifically those of the Inland Revenue, continue to turn. Back in the day, and speaking of the newly written American Constitution Benjamin Franklin is reputed to have said despite its ideals “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. Well this week is the last in which you can file your tax return for the years 2019-20 so if you haven’t it completed it, best to get a move on!

I loathe doing my taxes, and every year I seem to procrastinate for no reason other than I don’t like the hassle involved. I mean, why do your tax return today if you can put it off to tomorrow? It’s obvious! The problem then is that it becomes such an issue that it’s like a weight on my shoulders until I’ve everything handed to the accountant, the tax return is filed and I’ve paid anything I owe to the exchequer. Then it’s bliss.... I’m walking on air for the rest of the day promising myself that I’ll do it all in good time next year.
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Whatever that feels like though, is nothing compared to knowing one’s sins are forgiven. That is the experience David writes of in this Psalm how the burden of unrepented sin sapped his strength, perhaps in a spiritual and emotional way, until it was confessed. Perhaps that’s your experience too as it was mine and that is especially so when we first confess our sin to Christ, repent of it and receive his salvation. It’s like a great big debt has been settled and the weight of guilt and the dread of judgement lifted from us. Where that repentance is genuine and the peace of God is experienced there is real rejoicing and more, joy which we can’t keep to ourselves, at least, that’s how it should be. The psalm writer concludes that those who are forgiven, the upright in heart, should rejoice in the Lord and sing his praise. Peter affirmed that should be the preoccupation of the church.... “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1Pet 2:9).  Much too often our preoccupation is with other things and not in declaring this good news.