The meaning of the Hebrew word in Psalms 32:1 is “covered.” There seems to be no doubt but that the word kaphar also is to cover, to cover over. But who can cover sin before God? This was a question raised in the sanctuary, and victims appointed for man to offer; sacrifices various, too, for sins as they varied; the whole, I doubt not, essentially connected also with the great day of offering once a year, as given to us in Leviticus 16
Then the blood of the bullock was to be sprinkled upon the mercy-seat eastward, and before the mercy seat seven times and the blood of the goat had its place likewise. But the bodies of both were to be burned outside the camp. The year’s sins were put away.
But though the mercy-seat and the way up to it, and the holy sanctuary and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, and the priests, and the people were thus yearly marked with blood, and so sin was passed over, itself was neither really covered over, nor did it meet its doom.
It was quite right to obey God, most surely, and do these things; but what really did this day show (besides the insufficiency of the sacrifices) but that God was a God who knew all about sin and sins, was minded at that time in patience to bear with man a sinner, and once a year to pass by the sins committed against Him, without saying why and how He could do so consistently (save that it was by blood-shedding and death) either with His own claims over man, or with the law. It was all a constant bringing of sins to mind as before God, and as constant a reminding of man, that no man could cover sin or sins.
But God has now shown the counterpart of all this; for once in the end of the world, His Son has been down here as a Man and has taken up the question of man’s rebellion against God, of his sins and sin, and has brought full glory to God and blessing to the sinner that believes in connection with it. When He who knew no sin was made sin for us, God took occasion of sin to glorify Himself as to it: and He who was made sin knew how so to act as to glorify God whose servant He was.
The very brightest light now fills heaven, for the Lamb that was slain sits now upon the throne; that light shines down upon a dark and wicked race of men. Unto all the light comes and tells of what sin is as being against a God of mercy and compassion and love, who so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
But that light enters to fill the soul that believes, and there it rests and abides, the blessing of eternal life. My sins are.... Where? Become the manifestation of the glory and excellency of the Saviour, of whom as faith sees Him in the holiest of all, on heaven’s high throne, one learns both the infinite enormity of sin, and its having lost, to us who believe, all its condemnatory power forever.
Oh, the blessedness of transgression forgiven! Sin covered! Oh, the blessedness of “the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile!”