Are You Burdened by Sin? (Luke 15:2 and Psalm 32:1-5)

Psalm 32:1-4 describes what it feels like being burdened by sin. David was one of the most vibrant and vigorous men in Scripture, but his sin prematurely aged him. His health deteriorated dramatically at an early age, especially in Old Testament times, and especially for a man as physically gifted and strong as he was. The tax collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus to have their sin burdens lifted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8htGjuSljNY Psalm 32:1-4 describes being burdened by sin. Tax collectors and sinners drew near to Jesus to have their sin burdens lifted. Table of ContentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: Sin is a heavy burden to bear.Lesson Two: Sinners draw near to Jesus to have their sin burden lifted.Lesson Three: The self-righteous never have their sin burden lifted. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Psalm 32:1-5, 31:10, 38:3, 1 Kings 1:1—Why is it fitting to call sin a burden? Why do you think David’s sin burden affected him so much physically? What could David have done to ease the suffering from his sin? If you’re familiar with David’s life, what did it finally take for him to repent? Read 2 Samuel 12 if necessary. Day 2: Luke 5:12-13, 15:1, Matthew 3:2, 4:17—Why do you think tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to Jesus when so many others were turning away? Why is leprosy such a fitting picture of sin? How could Jesus reach out and touch a leper without becoming unclean? Describe the picture of double imputation when Jesus cleansed the leper. Day 3: Luke 15:2, Isaiah 65:2-5, 1 John 1:9—Why does self-righteousness stop people from having their sin burden lifted? Describe the sins the rebellious people committed in Isaiah 65. What was the final sin described in verse five and why was it so appalling to God? What can we do to be cleansed of our spiritual leprosy? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Are You Burdened by Sin?” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse. We are in Luke 15, but first I would like to have you open to Psalm 32. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah You may be seated. Let’s pray. We got a children’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress for Christmas for one of our kids and we started reading it together as a family…again…because we didn’t finish it the first time. Christian carries a heavy burden at the beginning of his journey, symbolizing his sin. This burden is what initially prompts him to seek salvation. It isn’t until he reaches the place of Deliverance, or the Cross, that he gets rid of the burden. And this brings us to lesson one… Lesson One: Sin is a heavy burden to bear. Listen to the lyrics of this well-know hymn… What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! Why does it say He bears them? Because they’re a burden. Are we weak and heavy-laden, This is how a heavy burden makes us feel. Cumbered with a load of care? More language of a heavy burden. Psalm 32 probably contains the best description in Scripture of what it feels like being burdened by sin. Look at verse 1… Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Do you remember when we talked about double imputation last week? Our sins imputed to Christ’s account His righteousness imputed to our account This verse describes that imputation. The words the Lord counts no iniquity mean he doesn’t impute our sins to our accounts. These are the verses Paul quotes in Romans 4 to explain imputation. The verse says blessed is the man against whom the Lord [does not impute sin], and that’s a great reason to feel blessed…but it’s not the reason David says he was blessed. Notice the first word of verse 3 – at least in the ESV – is for, which means, because. David says he’s blessed for, or because, of the reason he’s about to give…basically, so he wouldn’t have to keep feeling the way he was feeling! Look at verse 3… Psalm 32:3 For when I kept silent, What does this mean? Here’s the context… David committed adultery with Bathsheba, had her husband, Uriah, murdered, but instead of confessing his sin, he covered it. One of the marks of the integrity of Scripture is it records the lowest points of some of its greatest people. No punches are pulled. The following two verses show the agony David experienced when he kept carrying his burden. Look what he says… Psalm 32:3b My bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. This isn’t what we’d expect. We’d expect David to talk about the spiritual consequences – and he will – but first he talked about the physical consequences. He felt his body wasting away. Listen to the ages these people died: Abraham 175 Isaac 180 Jacob 147 Moses 120 Joshua 110 David was 70! 1 Kings 1:1 Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. David was one of the most vibrant and vigorous men in Scripture, but how does he sound now? Like a sick, decrepit, old man. His body was failing him. His health deteriorated dramatically at a young age, especially in Old Testament times, and especially for a man as physically gifted and strong as he was. What happened? Sin took a toll on him, and he described it here: he could feel it in his bones. We think of sin affecting us spiritually, but it also affects us physically. There’s a quality of life that we’re afforded when we submit to God…and there’s a wear-and-tear we experience when we don’t. This is part of the burden of sin. Look at verse 4… Psalm 32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. The words my strength – or other translations say vitality or life – was drying up. He could feel himself slowly dying. More than likely David hoped the conviction and guilt would go away…but it didn’t. He said it was heavy on him day and night, which means nonstop: He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t sleep. Nighttime wasn’t any more comforting than daytime. The more David covered his sin the more he suffered and the worse his life became. He was paying an excruciating price for carrying this burden. Look one chapter to the left to Psalm 31:10… Psalm 31:10a For my life is spent with sorrow, He had no joy. Psalm 31:10a and my years with sighing; He’s filled with grief. Psalm 31:10a my strength fails because of my iniquity, Again, losing vitality or life. Psalm 31:10a and my bones waste away. Again, physical suffering. Turn to the right to Psalm 38:3… Psalm 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones BECAUSE OF MY SIN. The words soundness in my flesh and no health in my bones show he’s talking about his physical suffering, and he says it was because of [his] sin. These are vivid descriptions of the physical burden sin brings. John Donne said, “Sin is a serpent, and whoever covers it only keeps it warm so it may sting even more fiercely, and disperse the venom more effectively,” In other words, carrying around the burden of sin only makes the suffering worse. When we are burdened by sin we wonder things like: How much longer can I keep living like this? Do the people around me know what I’ve done? What is God thinking, and what is He going to do to me? When will I be found out? When will: My husband or wife find out? My parents find out? My children find out? My friends find out? My church find out? These sorts of questions weigh on people…heavily. And I don’t mean they just weigh on us spiritually. I mean they weigh on us emotionally, mentally, and physically…as we see in these verses. Turn back to Psalm 32. Maybe the worst thing for David is he knew where this affliction came from! It came from God: Psalm 32:4 YOUR hand was heavy upon me. Psalm 38:2 YOUR arrows pierce me deeply, And YOUR hand presses me down. Psalm 38:3a There is no soundness in my flesh because of YOUR anger David knew it wasn’t just his conscience or guilt affecting him. He knew it was God Himself. God chastened David for almost a year and made him miserable while he refused to confess his sin. Spurgeon said, “God does not permit His children to sin successfully.” The weight of conviction and shame is a horrible feeling: Every day the struggle gets worse and worse. Sometimes it’s a relief to be found out: So you don’t have to hide anymore. And so you’re forced to get the help you need We’ve probably all heard stories of criminals who leave clues, because they want to get caught and bring their nightmare to an end. God pressed on David so hard, he finally – and wonderfully – broke. Look at verse 5… Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Three different ways David describes being unburdened of his sin: Acknowledged my sin Did not cover my iniquity Confess my transgressions David’s misery was a gift from God,