Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Ps 32:1-2.

How different is the estimate a sinner forms of happiness after he has been quickened by the Spirit to see his sins. From one who is, ". . . dead in trespasses and sins," Eph 2:1. David, after the quickening of the Spirit was, ". . . a man after God's own heart," having a tender heart before God.

He saw his sins as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of God's holy law, and the basest ingratitude for such a great salvation. Therefore he praises the Lord for the blessedness of such a pardon.

By nature, when we are still dead in our trespasses and sins, if we were going to reveal the true thoughts of our heart to list our greatest blessings would we give vent to the same list of beatitudes as we find in the commencement of the Sermon on the Mount? Would we begin with, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God?"

Would we not begin with, "Blessed are the rich, for theirs are the kingdoms of this world. Blessed are the proud, for they shall gain the honor of man. Blessed are they who have all that heart could wish, for they never shall know either want or poverty. Blessed are the quarrelers, for through quarreling one proves his stature among men?"

And so in the words of our text, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." How few there are who really enter into the blessedness pointed out here. How few can relate to this blessed experience. Having a testimony of when their transgressions were forgiven, and their sins were covered.

Oh how, "Blessed is he . . ."—however poor he may be in this world's goods, however despised by his fellow men, whatever hardships or difficulties may beset him—when he can say by experience that his transgressions were paid by our blessed Saviour's blood and that his sin is covered by the robe of Christ's righteousness. "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity." His iniquities are washed out in the fountain opened for all sin and all uncleanness, and his transgressions are all covered by the imputed obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What blessedness is there in the absence of these blessings if a man should live and die without repentance—unpardoned—with his sins resting upon his guilty head, to endure the curse of God, flaming forth in His indignation for evermore? "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

Wherever the Lord imputes righteousness, He does not impute iniquity. Wherever He imputes iniquity, He does not impute righteousness. This means we must either stand before God with all our sins upon our guilty head, or we must stand before God in the imputed obedience of His dear Son.

Now, "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity." That is whom He views complete in Christ, whose sins Christ has put away by His atoning blood, and who is covered by Christ's robe of righteousness.

"And in whose spirit there is no guile." Until you experience this pardon, there is a degree of self-righteousness, self-justification and a measure of hypocrisy in your heart.