Psalm 32
1Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah. 5I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 6For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him. 7You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 8I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you. 9Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you. 10Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh. 11Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!
Introduction
Psalms 32
This psalm, though it speaks not of Christ, as many of the psalms we have hitherto met with have done, has yet a great deal of gospel in it. The apostle tells us that David, in this psalm, describes "the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputes righteousness without words," Rom 4:6. We have here a summary, I. Of gospel grace in the pardon of sin (Psa 32:1, Psa 32:2), in divine protection (Psa 32:7), and divine guidance (Psa 32:8). II. Of gospel duty. To confess sin (Psa 32:3-5), to pray (Psa 32:6), to govern ourselves well (Psa 32:9, Psa 32:10), and to rejoice in God (Psa 32:11). The way to obtain these privileges is to make conscience of these duties, which we ought to think of - of the former for our comfort, of the latter for our quickening, when we sing this psalm. Grotius thinks it was designed to be sung on the day of atonement.
A psalm of David, Maschil.
Cross-references: Rom 4:6 · Ps 32:1 · Ps 32:2 · Ps 32:7 · Ps 32:8 · Ps 32:3 · Ps 32:6 · Ps 32:9 · Ps 32:10 · Ps 32:11