Our devotions for this first full week of Lent have centered on sin. We have talked about what sin is and about the deep need inside us to confess that sin to God – to agree with him about the nature and impact of sin in our lives. Today we want to think about the guilt of sin – why we have it, what it does to us, and the importance of being free from it. Let’s look again at a verse from Psalm 32.
Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins. Selah (Psalm 32:5 NET).
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin (Psalm 32:5 NIV).
But then I decided to confess my sins to the Lord. I stopped hiding my guilt and told you about my sins. And you forgave them all! Selah (Psalm 32:5 ERV).
NASB Psalm 32:5 NASB
NCV Psalm 32:5 NCV
ESV Psalm 32:5 ESV
MSG Psalm 32:5 MESSAGE
KJV Psalm 32:5 KJV
NKJV Psalm 32:5 NKJV
HCSB Psalm 32:5 HCSB
NLT Psalm 32:5 NLT
LEB Psalm 32:5 LEB
For All Sin
Everyone sins. Sin results in a feeling of guilt. Guilt produces emotional and mental pain for the wrong we have committed. Just like physical pain drives us to find out what is wrong, the spiritual pain of the guilt of sin stirs us to seek forgiveness. The Psalmist tells us that God promises relief from the guilt of sin when we confess our sins to Him.
Guilt serves as a two-edged sword. While the guilt of sin can prompt us to seek forgiveness and produce better behavior, unresolved guilt can lead to significant psychological distress and interpersonal difficulties. It may be necessary to understand the nature and reasons for the guilt for the feelings to be resolved.
The Guilt of Sin
Psychology Today calls guilt “an adversive agent” – unpleasant stimulii that induce changes in behavior via negative reinforcement or positive punishment. The website says that people “may feel guilt for a variety of reasons, including acts they have committed (or think they have committed), a failure to do something they should have done, or thoughts they think are morally wrong.
Guilt continues to be a natural, self-focused response. It is also highly socially relevant, serving several important interpersonal functions. Guilt encourages the repair of valuable relationships, discouraging acts that could damage them. But persistent feelings of unresolved guilt of sin can lead to a negative self-view, producing several damaging psychological effects.
What are some of those effects? According to the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, individuals with high levels of guilt are more likely to experience major depressive episodes. Anxiety remains a significant consequence of the guilt of sin. Constant worry about past actions creates a state of chronic anxiety. Anxiety often manifests itself with physical symptoms including muscle tension and sleep disturbances.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) finds itself closely associated with guilt. In some cases, guilt triggers obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors attempting to alleviate the anxious feelings from guilt. This cycle becomes a hazard to daily functioning.
Guilt is perhaps
the most painful
companion of death.
Coco Chanel
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often develops following the impact of guilt. Survivors of traumatic events may experience survivor’s guilt where they feel responsible for their survival while others did not fare so well. Guilt of this type overwhelms and intrudes on rational thinking.
Biblical Teaching and Observations of Psychology
Since all truth is God’s truth, let’s marry the observations of psychology with the teachings of Scripture. Both teach that guilt springs from self-reflection about acts they perceive are “morally wrong.” The Bible calls these acts “sin,” and the guilt from sin has persisted since the Garden of Eden. Throughout Scripture, we see the adverse effects of sin on the individual and their relationships.
The prophet shows us that God is willing to forgive and cleanse us from our sins when we “reason together” with Him (Isaiah 1:18). Proverbs teaches that those who conceal their sins will not prosper (Proverbs 28:13).
Truth from Psalm 32
Let’s turn our attention back to Psalm 32 and observe three things from verse five. First, this is the longest verse in the psalm. The length draws attention that this is the most important verse – probably the heart of the entire psalm. Forgiveness is the very heart of David’s testimony. In the very same way, God’s forgiveness in Christ should be the heart of our spiritual experience. When we share with others about faith, forgiveness forms the very center of our message.
Second, verse five contains each of the words for sin introduced in verses one and two. Their inclusion paints a complete picture of sin and particularly shows that all of David’s sins were confessed. He held nothing back from God. God, in turn, forgave it all.
Finally, God’s forgiveness was immediate. David follows “I will confess my transgressions” immediately with “and you forgave the guilt of sin.” Immediately following the verse is the word “selah.” The word tends to direct the progress and flow of musical poetry. The word means “to pause and take notice.”
Follow David’s reasoning. He says the Lord “forgave the guilt of my sin.” We are to pause and reflect on that concept. Sin – and its author Satan – forces the weight of guilt around our necks. God is clearly the only one who can forgive and cleanse – erase – that guilt.