Although I know they bring balance to the ecosystem, I am definitely NOT a snake person. If I never saw another one in my lifetime, I would be thrilled. It isn’t a fear thing; it is a symbolic image that has been planted in my mind by the Word of God. Granted, God made the serpent (Gen. 3:1), but in my soul [mind/will/emotions] the snake reminds me to stay far away from sin. In this way, the snake is a helpful mnemonic—an image that aids my memory about betrayal and the deadly effects of sin in my life.
Regardless of the power of this mnemonic, I will need God’s forgiveness again. So, if I look deeper, a snake also reminds me of God’s love and forgiveness that he has put into place since the beginning of time. He writes the story, so humanity knows the sin and the Cure. Jesus is the Healer for the snakebite of sin. Yet, how much better if we learn through obedience to run from sin in the first place.
Sin is like a poisonous snake when it bites, it leaves behind the venom of guilt and shame. Sometimes, we struggle to get away from the affects of sin regardless of whether it is our own or the sin someone else commits against us. Trying to live with unconfessed sin is tormenting to the soul and destructive to relationships.
We learn, from our passage today, David had been carrying around the venom of guilt and shame. As well, because of divine love, God’s hand of disciple had been putting pressure on David to repent and turn toward healing. God wanted to heal David sooner rather than later in order to spare him further torment. David’s sin and rebellion against God’s standards, left him dealing with the venom of betrayal, adultery, murder, guilt, and shame. He could not be himself while carrying this heavy load. God wanted to bring forgiveness, but David had to become weary from carrying it (Mat. 11:28-29).
David wrote this psalm to remind all of God’s children that forgiveness leaves a soul fresh and fill with joy. What a wonderful exchange God offers the humble. He takes our sin and leaves us with the substance of his righteous Kingdom.
Psalm 32:1-7 NLT A psalm of David.
1
Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,[b]
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3
When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude
5
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude
6
Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the ability to be cleansed by your grace. You take all that is sinful and destructive and you leave us with a supernatural healing and joy. Today, we confess our sin of delay; we have been slow in giving you the things that are polluting our souls. These may be things like grief, sorrow, regret, denial, shame, guilt, greed, anger, etc., or the practice of what your Word identifies as sin. Help us turn toward you, Lord, because you hold the gift of forgiveness that leads to the righteous abundant life. We need to release what is not of you in order to receive the joy of our salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.