Fourth Sunday in Lent: Psalm, Psalm 32                          

Psalm 32

Highly unusual for me. As a matter of fact, I believe this is a first. I am not including the gospel reading this week and only because it is such a treasured text that to attempt further devotional writing on it may cloud what is already clear. There are volumes out there on “The Prodigal Son” so have at it.

No, I am taking us back to the Psalm for the week, Psalm 32. And as my title implies it is “gospel-full.” Psalm 32 begins, “ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” The gospel, its essence, is as a bringer of comfort. Luther would speak and write often about comfort for terrified consciences. That is what the gospel brings. And it, of course, is found all through the Bible. Not just in the New Testament. Now it’s not the name of Jesus we find in the Old Testament, but the promises of God accomplishing for his people all that is necessary for salvation. And that of course becomes personified in the incarnation and work of our dear Savior.

But the psalm for this week is a grand declaration, beginning at the start, of God putting away our sins from his view. All of the readings for this week are full of such good news, including the marvelous account of the revered son turned pig farmer. Yes the prodigal ran headlong into the goodness of a father for which he had held contempt. “I want what’s mine. I wish you were dead.” is what the younger son actually thought. So, I guess we did include a bit of the gospel reading, too. But all the better to read the psalm and gospel together to be reminded that from first to last, God is the source of our blessedness. He covers our sins. He makes all things new. Behold, he does all things well.