Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven...

We have been reading from  Reading the Psalms with Luther and today we read Psalm 32 and wanted to share with you what it said.

The 32nd Psalm is an exemplary psalm of instruction that teaches us what sin is, and how one might be freed from it and be righteous before God. Our reason does not know what sin is and tries to make satisfaction for it with works. But even saints are sinners. They cannot become holy or blessed except by confessing themselves as sinners before God, knowing that they are regarded as righteous only from the grace of God, apart from any service or work.


In short, our righteousness is called (in plain language) the forgiveness of our sins. Here stand the clear plain words: All the saints are sinners and remain sinners. But they are holy because God in His grace neither sees nor counts these sins, but forgets, forgives, and covers them!

This is the prayer that follows the psalm. We are so blessed and thankful that we don't even have to come up with our own prayers, but can receive our many gifts from people who have gone before us to preserve life.

O God, our heavenly Father, with whom is grace and much forgiveness, be merciful to us who were born in sin and cannot but sin and fall short everyday. Forgive us our many transgressions and account them against us no more, but make us as Your heirs through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, who was delivered into death for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Amen.