The last two verses of this psalm form a good introduction to it. They contain the familiar biblical contrast between the wicked and the righteous, those who choose not to live in faith toward God and those who trust God.

10-11
Here the difference stated is that whereas the woes of the wicked are many, the righteous can rejoice, be glad and sing because of God’s unfailing love which surrounds, protects and provides for them. The point is not that wicked people have troubles and the righteous don’t. The point is that the righteous find reasons for joy, gladness and singing not enjoyed by the wicked. Human joy arises from God’s love which demonstrates itself in forgiving and guiding the sinner.

God’s forgiveness of the past (verses 1-7)

The psalm begins with two Old Testament beatitudes, affirming not the blessedness of those who "walk not in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night" (1:1-3). Now the blessing is of the person who sins are forgiven ("lifted", Stott) and covered so that the Lord does not count his sin against him.

Forgiveness is thus regarded as the lifting of a burden, the covering of something embarrassing or ugly, and the cancelling of a debt. We sing "Burdens are lifted at Calvary" and the longer I live, the more convinced am I that life’s greatest burden is the burden of sin, the burden of various miseries that result from sin, especially the burden of a guilty conscience that comes from our sin.

If indeed, a guilty conscience is (one of) life’s greatest possible burdens, then the lifting of that burden is (one of) life’s greatest blessings. If today you are guilty, you are carrying on yourself life’s greatest burden, but you can experience one of life’s greatest blessings if you can somehow become the person whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered, whose sin the Lord does not count against him.

At the same time, if you are forgiven, you have been relieved of life’s great- est burden, and therefore YOU HAVE RECEIVED ONE OF THE GREATEST POSSIBLE BLESSINGS. He is a truly blessed man who, although he knows himself to be a sinner, also knows his sin is covered and forgiven. The blessing of forgiveness is great because the burden lifted is so great. The blessing of forgiveness is in proportion to the burden lifted.

3-5
Observe, first, the terrible burden of guilt prior to finding forgiveness, probably referring to the time when David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, since it was almost a year before he was brought to repentance. There were terrible mental and even physical consequences. Long before the term "pyshosomatic illness" was coined, David tells how a tortured conscience produced alarming physical symptoms as well...

Observe, secondly, that there was no forgiveness and therefore no peace as long as David tried to conceal from God his sin, as long as he tried to hide from God his sin, as long as he failed to acknowledge to God his sin. David dreaded confronting his sin. For awhile he rationalized away his sin. He sought to ignore and forget about his sin. He diverted his thoughts away from his sin. But it was all for naught. Nothing worked to bring him peace. His spirit became more and more full of torment, and there was no rest in his bones because of the guilt brought on by his own sin. At long last he came to the point that he felt like he could no longer keep silent about it. In humility he confessed to God his sin. Only then did he find forgiveness and therefore relief from the burden of a guilty conscience.

Maybe you read or saw on TV Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment which is a classic tale of a man who committed murder but couldn’t live with himself and the inner torment of a guilty conscience. Only he knew of his deed, but hiding it only tormented him more than ever. When he could no longer stand his guilt, in desperation he made a choice to turn himself in and confess. Then, and only then, did he find relief for his tormented soul. Dostoevsky knew human nature. He knew the torment of a guilty conscience and the only way relief could be found - by confessing our sin to God and receiving his forgiveness.

And so for us it is also true that forgiveness of sin and relief from the burden of a guilty conscience from sin come only when we are willing to each individually confess to God our sins. God blesses with forgiveness only the person in whose spirit is no deceit (32:2), who does not try to deceive God concerning his sin, who does not try to hide from God his sin, who is honest with God about his sin. It is human nature for us to deny and conceal and hide our own sin. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn. 1:9).

If we want God’s forgiveness and to thereby find relief from a guilty cons- cience, we must be ruthless about confessing our sins. Not that we are required to bare our souls to one another in every instance - it is neither necessary nor advisable to publicly confess all our sins except where we may have offended others and may make restitution by our confession. But before God we must open our souls, we must make open confession, we must not rationalize or defend or make excuses for any sin. All must be acknowledged before him who knows even the secrets of the heart, and no confession will be accepted before God if we knowingly conceal the enormity of our transgressions or in some other way gloss them over. We must be ruthlessly honest before God in order to find forgiveness and rest for our guilty and tormented souls.

It is not enough to see the sins of others. We are pretty good about confessing their sins. David confessed his own sin... So must we. Nor is it enough to confess only those sins in which we have been publicly caught in the act. We must confess also those sins about which only God knows. To voluntarily bring before God your private sins, that is what you need. This is the manner in which we must stand before God if we expect to find mercy. Compare also Luke 18:9-14.

6
David’s experience of forgiveness through repentance and confession leads him to urge others to do what he did and so receive what he received. He calls on all to pray to God while he may be found which brings to mind Is. 55:6-7. We are to seek God WHILE he may be found, while we have the opportunity, while forgiveness is offered - suggesting there will come a time when the opportunity for forgiveness will have passed. It will be too late.

Some of you may not be forgiven, saved from sin. But you can be and you ought to be - now! It is your greatest burden and your greatest need.

7
This is what God does for those who pray to him and find him and confess to him. He hides us, protects us from trouble and surrounds us with songs about his wonderful deliverance.

GOD’S GUIDANCE OF THE FUTURE

David’s expression of confidence in God is immediately answered.

8
God instructs, teaches, counsels and watches over. And God instructs us in the way we ought to go, the right way, the best way, the preferable way, the good way, the best way. Compare Is. 48:17-18. So in his unfailing love, God not only forgives, he instructs, advises and guides. The President has his counselors. People often see a family counselor. College students are assigned a counselor. God is the best of all counselors and he becomes a counselor on retainer for those who confess their sins and pray to him. And he advises us...

9
It is important to see that verse 9 follows verse 8. God’s promise to guide and watch over is not intended to save us from using our own intelligence and making our own choices. Now I am reluctant to admit this in the presence of Vicki and Margaret, but horses and mules have their place. They can do some good. They have some good qualities about them that might justify the cost of their upkeep. But they must be controlled by bit and bridle. You’ve got to force them to do whatever it is you want them to do.

God says "Don’t be like that - because I am not going to force you. I’m going to treat you like humans, not like mules. If you do my will, you will have to make a choice." But God’s point is that if we are stubborn, and if we choose not to do what God wants, we are going to hurt ourselves and those around us - every single time. The whole lesson of this psalm is that coming to God, praying to God, confessing to God, being honest with God, listening to God, obeying God blesses us - every single time.

Blessed, indeed, are those who are are surrounded by the steadfast and unfailing love of God, forgiving their sins when they confess them to Him, and guiding them when they trust his promises and are willing to obey his commands.

11
Are you among the blessed, the forgiven, the saved, the protected, the delivered? You can be by coming to Jesus who died in your place, receiving the punishment due that that God might forgive you. "In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

"If you confess your sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness."

"Go preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved..."
"Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

If you are guilty, come to Jesus for relief. He will forgive you. Don’t be like the horse or mule ... which must be controlled by bit and bridle. Choose confession, obedience - you won’t regret it.