Chapter 1
Holy David in the front of this Psalm, shows us, wherein true happiness consists; not in beauty, honor, riches, (the World's Trinity) but in the forgiveness of sin. Verse 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven. The Hebrew word to forgive signifies to carry out of sight; which well agrees with that, Jeremiah 50:20. In those days (says the Lord) the sins of Judah shall be sought for, and they shall not be found. This is an incomprehensible blessing, and such as lays a foundation for all other mercies. I shall but glance at it, and lay down these five Assertions about it.
1. Forgiveness of sin is an act of God's Free Grace. The Greek word to forgive deciphers the Original of pardon; it arises not from anything inherent in us, but is the pure result of Free Grace. Isaiah 43:25. I, even I am he, that blots out thy transgressions for mine own sake. When a Creditor forgives a Debtor, he does it freely. Pardon of sin is a fine thread spun out of the bowels of Free Grace. Paul cries out, I obtained mercy, 1 Timothy 1:13. I was be-mercied: he who is pardoned, is all bestrewed with mercy. When the Lord pardons a sinner, he does not pay a Debt, but give a Legacy.
2. God in forgiving sin, remits the guilt and penalty. Guilt cries for justice; no sooner had Adam eaten the Apple, but he saw the flaming sword, and heard the Curse; but in remission God does indulge the sinner; he seems to say thus to him, Though you are fallen into the hands of my Justice, and deserve to die, yet I will absolve you, and whatever is charged upon you, shall be discharged.
3. Forgiveness of sin is through the blood of Christ. Free grace is the impulsive cause, Christ's blood is the meritorious. Hebrews 9:22: Without shedding of blood is no remission. Justice would be revenged either on the sinner or the surety. Every pardon is the price of blood.
4. Before sin is forgiven, it must be repented of. Therefore repentance and remission are linked together. Luke 24:47. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name. Not that repentance does in a Popish sense merit forgiveness; Christ's blood must wash our Tears: but repentance is a qualification, though not a cause. He who is humbled for sin will the more value pardoning mercy. When there is nothing in the soul but clouds of sorrow, and now God brings a pardon, which is a setting up a Rainbow in the Cloud, to tell the sinner, that the flood of wrath shall not overflow him; O what joy is there at the sight of this Rainbow! The soul that before was steeped in tears, now melts in love to God. Luke 7:38, 47.
5. God having forgiven sin, he will call it no more into remembrance, Jeremiah 31:34. The Lord will make an act of Indemnity, he will not upbraid us with former unkindnesses, or sue us with a cancelled Bond. Micah 7:19. He will cast our sins into the depth of the sea. Sin shall not be cast in as Cork which rises up again; but as Lead which sinks to the bottom. How should we all labor for this Covenant-blessing!
1. How sad is it to want it! It must needs be ill with the Malefactor who wants his pardon: all the Curses of God stand in full force against the unpardoned sinner; his very blessings are cursed. Malachi 2:2. Caesar wondered at one of his Soldiers, that was so merry when he was in debt. Can the sinner be merry who is heir to all God's Curses, and knows not how soon he may take up his Lodgings among the damned?
2. How sweet is it to have it! 1. The pardoned soul is out of the gun-shot of Hell. Romans 8:33. Satan may accuse, but Christ will show a discharge. 2. The pardoned soul may go to God with boldness in prayer. Guilt clips the wings of prayer, that it cannot fly to the Throne of Grace; but forgiveness breeds confidence: He who has his pardon, may look his Prince in the face with comfort.
This great mercy of pardon David had obtained, as appears, Verse 5. Thou forgavest me. And because he had found God a God of pardons, therefore he encourages others to seek God, in the words of the Text, For this cause shall every one that is godly pray unto thee.
At the opening of this psalm, David shows us where true happiness is found — not in beauty, honor, or riches (the world's trinity), but in the forgiveness of sin. Verse 1: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven. The Hebrew word for forgive means to carry out of sight, which fits perfectly with Jeremiah 50:20: In those days (says the Lord) the sins of Judah shall be sought for, and they shall not be found. This is an incomprehensible blessing, and one that lays the foundation for all other mercies. I will touch on it briefly and set down five key assertions about it.
1. Forgiveness of sin is an act of God's free grace. The Greek word for forgive points to the source of pardon — it does not arise from anything within us, but is the pure result of free grace. Isaiah 43:25: I, even I am He, that blots out your transgressions for My own sake. When a creditor forgives a debtor, he does it freely. Pardon of sin is a fine thread spun out of the depths of free grace. Paul cries out, I obtained mercy, 1 Timothy 1:13. He was showered with mercy — whoever is pardoned is covered all over with it. When the Lord pardons a sinner, He does not pay a debt but gives a gift.
2. God, in forgiving sin, removes both the guilt and the penalty. Guilt cries out for justice — no sooner had Adam eaten the apple than he saw the flaming sword and heard the curse. But in forgiveness, God shows the sinner grace. He says, in effect: Though you have fallen into the hands of my justice and deserve to die, I will acquit you, and whatever has been charged against you will be discharged.
3. Forgiveness of sin comes through the blood of Christ. Free grace is the driving cause; Christ's blood is the meritorious cause. Hebrews 9:22: Without shedding of blood there is no remission. Justice must be satisfied — either in the sinner or in the substitute. Every pardon is bought at the price of blood.
4. Before sin is forgiven, it must be repented of. This is why repentance and forgiveness are always linked together. Luke 24:47: That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name. Not that repentance earns forgiveness in a Roman Catholic sense — Christ's blood must wash even our tears — but repentance is a qualification, not a cause. The person who is genuinely sorry for sin will value pardoning mercy all the more. When the soul is filled with nothing but dark clouds of sorrow, and then God brings a pardon — setting up a rainbow in the cloud to tell the sinner that the flood of wrath will not overwhelm him — what joy fills the heart at the sight of that rainbow! The soul that was soaked in tears now melts in love toward God. Luke 7:38, 47.
5. Once God has forgiven sin, He will never bring it up again, Jeremiah 31:34. The Lord issues a full pardon and will not throw our past offenses back in our faces or use a cancelled debt against us. Micah 7:19: He will cast our sins into the depths of the sea. Sin will not be thrown in like a cork that bobs back to the surface, but like lead that sinks to the bottom. How eagerly we should all seek this covenant blessing!
1. How tragic it is to lack forgiveness! It must go badly for the criminal who has not received his pardon — all of God's curses stand in full force against the unforgiven sinner, and even his blessings are cursed. Malachi 2:2. Caesar once marveled at one of his soldiers who was cheerful while deeply in debt. Can a sinner be cheerful when he is heir to all of God's curses, and does not know how soon he may find himself among the damned?
2. How sweet it is to have forgiveness! First, the pardoned soul is out of reach of hell. Romans 8:33. Satan may accuse, but Christ will produce the discharge. Second, the pardoned soul can approach God in prayer with confidence. Guilt clips the wings of prayer so it cannot fly to the throne of grace — but forgiveness breeds confidence. The one who has his pardon can look his King in the face with joy.
David himself had received this great mercy of pardon, as is clear from verse 5: You forgave me. Because he had found God to be a God of pardons, he encourages others to seek God, in the words of this text: For this shall everyone that is godly pray unto You.
