Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
David on the relief of being forgiven: blessed is the one whose sin is covered.
KJV1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
Israel’s prayer book: songs of trust, lament, thanks and praise, many of them by David.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
In Jesus’ parable, the father sees his son far off and runs to meet him. That is how God welcomes those who come back.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
From the cross, Jesus prays for the people crucifying Him.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Jesus’ words right after the Lord’s Prayer: receiving God’s forgiveness and forgiving others belong together. Forgiving often takes time, and it never means accepting harm.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Paul to a church: bear with one another’s faults and forgive, as Christ forgave you. Forgiving is not the same as accepting harm.