Psalm 32, by Bill Rhetts (the politics are providentially necessary)

Since Tuesday, I’ve prayed diligently whether if I should preach this sermon as drafted. But historically because we may soon have our second Roman Catholic President inaugurated in our White House, and because of our Nation’s history of National sins promoted or legislated by both parties, I preached this unpopular message on Psalm 32.

Naturally so, this sermon will be hated by the world, but unnaturally it will be disliked by a large number of professing Christians (Democrats & Republicans). But I believe it is ‘providentially necessary’ to sound the trumpet. If I fear to preach it, then perhaps I am a hireling, not a shepherd. So that this sermon will be searchable on Google, I included a transcription of verses 2&3 below the audio and video.

The theme of this Psalm is ‘the Blessings of Forgiveness and Wise Living.’

This Psalm is a penitential Psalm, and is one of 7 penitential Psalms. The others are Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143.

A penitential Psalm acknowledges or confesses their sins before the Lord, and they recognize their need for forgiveness. The penitential psalm is the prayer of a repentant sinner.

Regarding church history, and applicable to some American history, I will be prayerfully applying this Psalm to the state of America today; which means this sermon will be somewhat political.

Specifically and prayerfully in verses 1&2, this sermon will include polemics and politics, but in a nonpartisan way.   

From as early as the ‘second Century,’ penitential psalms had a liturgical use in the church for the confession of sin and repentance.

Bud sadly, later the Roman Catholics used these Psalms as a form of religious penance, rather than repentance. And worse, they set these Psalms apart specifically for ‘Ash Wednesday’ or their ‘time of Lent.’

At the beginning of the Presidential campaign, we saw President elect Joe Biden with useless ashes smudged upon his forehead (in the sign of the Cross).

And the media promoted his Roman Catholicism, and I suspect much more is to come, as they bring reproach to Christ.

But Reformers must expose, and push back – Semper Reformanda!

Before Joe Biden, President John F. Kennedy was the first and only Roman Catholic to hold this highest office in our Nation, as the leader of the free world.

But the brutal truth is, perhaps their religion and their penance has sent more people to hell, than all the bars in this universe.

Therefore, a true Biblical penitential Psalm is a Psalm of repentance, and that repentance is a gift from our Lord upon salvation, and is manifested throughout our lives of sanctification.

Please understand that I am not saying the phrase “National sins” is in this passage, but we can gleam this from the Text, and apply it to todays world.

Because of the Hebrew word פֶּשַׁע (pesha`) in vs 1, applicably we will talk more about our Nations National sins, that were legislated within some White House Admins., and our highest courts.

The division of this Psalm is as follows

Vs 1-2 is National sins, and the benediction of the pardoned (or the blessing of forgiveness)
Vs 3-5 is David’s personal confession (or lessons from experience)
Vs 6-7 is the application of concern of others
Vs 8-9 the voice of God is heard by the forgiven one
Vs 10-11 is the fate of the non-saved vs God’s elect.

Vs 1-2 is National sins, and the benediction of the pardoned (or the blessing of forgiveness)

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ² Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

This “transgression” is the Hebrew word פֶּשַׁע – pesha`, which is a revolt, or a national or moral rebellion. Or a sin, transgression, or trespass against God. It can also be a sin against other nations, and/or against individuals.

Without a doubt, this is clearly a portrait of the lawlessness of Black Lives Matter and Antifa, as they revolted against God, our Nation, it’s police, its people and their property. 

But it’s also a portrait of some politicians, some judges and courts, and even particular White House administrations.

For a long time now, our White House has demonstrated or legislated these transgressions (or national sins).

Just in my lifetime, I think of JFK (our first Roman Catholic president), who was a serial adulterer.

Fast-forwarding to Bill Clinton committing adultery in the White House, and allowing homosexuals into our military, and then he and Hillary’s aggressive pro-abortion agenda. 

And yes, Obama’s promotion (or pesha`) of ‘child sacrifice’ was even worse.

Since Christians are supposed to be objective. Even our current Republican administration has furthered the homosexual agenda.

And let us not forget that it was a Republican U.S. Supreme Court that legalized abortion (Roe v. Wade).

Let us not forget that that the Republican party has its own well organized ‘homosexual wing’ called the ‘Log Cabin Republicans.’

As their web site reads, “LGBT Republicans and straight allies have chosen to transform the GOP from the inside, working to overcome the forces of exclusion and intolerance.”

Let me make this very clear. This Christian (this Pastor), is not one of their “straight allies,” and I will not work with them to “overcome forces of exclusion of intolerance.” Because tolerance is sin.

This Christian (this pastor) will appropriately apply Ephesians 5.

In the context of ‘walking in love’ it says in Ephesians 5:1-7,

“Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them.”

In the context of ‘walking in light’ it says in verses 8-14,

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

In the context of ‘walking in wisdom’ it says in verses 15-21,

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

Church I fully understand that the Republican party is better than the Democrat party (according to the worlds standards), but we must pledge our allegiance to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, not to a political party (or ideology).  

So, if we fear God, and care for our Nation, then we will call-out these ‘national sins’ (pesha`) as being unacceptable, an intolerable, regardless of political affiliation. And looking forward.

If God decrees President elect Joe Biden (the 2nd Roman Catholic President) to occupy our White House, the promotion of these National sins (homosexuality and abortion) will only increase.

Oh, sure we defeated Hillary, but we may end up with a far worse woman as our Vice President, that being Kamila Harris.

How is it that we can go ‘from bad to worse,’ just like that? Because God decrees these things to occur. Abortion & sexual immorality is a form of His just judgment upon our nation.

It warns in Romans 1. God also gave them up to uncleanness (vs 24). God gave them up to vile passions (vs 26). And God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting (vs 28).

As it says in chapter 3, paragraph 1 of our Confession. “God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.”

Our highest court, the SCOTUS has legislated these transgressions (pesha`) against both God and country.
When todays compromising so-called “patriots” state those words “God and country,” I can’t help but think of their hypocrisy.

I think of the transgressions like abortion and homosexuality that have been legislated from our highest levels of legislative jurisprudence.

This is why I am no longer “proud to be an American.” God hates those who practice evil, and He hates the ‘proud’ look (though He loves His blood-bought born-again Church).

I rarely quote post-modern-day men, but Tim Challies said this,

“Psalm 11:5 puts it bluntly: God hates wicked people. “The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” He hates wicked people from his soul, from the very depth of his being. God hates their ways (Proverbs 15:9), their thoughts (Proverbs 15:26), their worship (Proverbs 15:8), their actions (Proverbs 6:18), and their evil deeds (Psalm 5:5). He singles out as a special object of his hatred the blasphemous deeds of the Nicolaitans, those who seduced God’s people with idolatry and sexual immorality. “Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate (Revelation 2:6).”

But know this Church. We too were once ‘at odds’ with God. And so, I will judge myself before you.

According to the Scriptures, before my salvation I was an enemy of the Lord (Rom 5:10), a child of wrath (Eph 2:3), dead in my sins and transgressions (Eph 2:5), a son of perdition (John 17:12), and God’s wrath abided upon me (John 3:36). 

In layman’s terms, I was a dirtbag.

So, as we consider this ‘penitential Psalm,’ we must consider the weight of these “transgressions’ (pesha`), as well as our own sin. Before we can truly appreciate verses1&2.

It is only by the grace of God that we too (God’s elect) can say, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” And that “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.”

The sins of Gods elect (Christ’s bride) have been forgiven and covered.

Next, this word “forgiven” (nâśâ’) means to have our sins burned, carry away, cast afar, pardoned. To lift, bear up, carry, or take away. Thank You Jesus!

Now we’ve gone over this “the transgression is forgiven,” it says “whose sin is covered.”

This phrase “whose sin” in the Hebrew chăṭâ’âh, means the sacrifice for the sin, or a sin offering. Thank You Jesus!

And this word “covered” is the Hebrew word kâsâh which means to cover, conceal or hide our sins. Thank You Jesus!

This can only be accomplished by Christ’s vicarious efficacious substitutionary atonement, that He accomplished on the Cross for God’s elect.

Vs 2 said “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

Because of the imputation of Christ, His Church will be blessed. Because the sins of Gods elect are imputed over to Jesus (on that Cross), and His righteousness is imputed over to us, we inherit the kingdom of God.

Thank You Jesus!