Verse of the Day for September 1

The psalm opens with a congratulation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven. David does not say blessed is the man who has improved, or the man who has finally stopped. He says blessed is the one who has been forgiven, and he says it first.

Look at how many words he uses for the problem. Transgression, sin, iniquity. Then three ways God deals with them: forgiven, covered, not counted. It is as if he wants to leave no corner of the trouble untouched.

There is only one condition in these two verses, and it is not readiness. It is honesty. in whose spirit there is no guile. Guile is the tidy version of yourself you present before you feel worthy to come. God is not asking for that version. He is asking for the true one.

Many of us wait. We want to feel sorry enough, clean enough, steady enough, and then we will ask. David knew what that waiting did to him; a few lines later he speaks of bones that grew old while he kept silent.

So on the bus this morning, or at the kitchen sink, you do not need to rehearse. Tell him plainly what happened. The blessing in this psalm was spoken over people who were not ready either.

God blessed the forgiven before he said a word about the improved.

You can bring the true version of today, not the tidy one.