Psalm 32

Introduction:

Superscript: A Psalm of David, Maschil.

Book 1 Author: David

Type: Maschil … didactic … teaching; some refer to it as an instructional Psalm.

Theme: Thanksgiving and instruction. David describes the blessings of forgiveness, esp. after suffering from conviction; then using his on experience, gives instruction and hope to others.

Romans 4:6-8

King James Version Chapter 4

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

King James Version Psalm 32

1  Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

There are 7 words in the Hebrew that are translated as bless or blessed. Here the word means how happy!

Transgression: sin or rebellion

Forgiven: to lift as to lift a burden, to lift the penalty of sin off someone.

Covered: Covered by God, as the ark was covered by the mercy-seat, as Noah was covered from the flood, as the Egyptians were covered by the depths of the sea. What a cover must that be which hides away for ever from the sight of the all-seeing God.

Atonement: at-one-ment-God covered our sins. Christ’s atonement is the propitiation, the covering, the making an end of sin.

King James Version Psalm 32

2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no guile.

Here is the same Hebrew word for blessed but it is plural, meaning more than one!

In these 2 verses we have 3 words used describing our disobedience: transgression, sin, and iniquity. But this trinity of sin is over come by the Trinity of heaven.

Impute means to count, weave, or reckon. When a person accepts Christ, God imputes them as righteous. A new believer is declared righteous in His sight.

And in his spirit there is no guile, that is no deceit. One is cleansed, fellowship with God restored.

King James Version Psalm 32

3  When I kept silence, my bones waxed old

Through my roaring all the day long.

4  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me:

My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah

The Treasury of David, Volume 2: Psalms 27–57 Exposition

“When I kept silence.” When through neglect I failed to confess, or through despair dared not to do so, “my bones,” those solid pillars of my frame, the strongest portions of my bodily constitution, “waxed old,” began to decay with weakness, for my grief was so intense as to sap my health and destroy my vital energy

The Treasury of David, Volume 2: Psalms 27–57 Exposition

Through my roaring all the day long.” He was silent as to confession, but not as to sorrow. Horror at his great guilt, drove David to incessant laments, until his voice was no longer like the articulate speech of man, but so full of sighing and groaning, that it resembled the hoarse roaring of a wounded beast

Vs 4. God’s hand is very helpful when it uplifts, but it is awful when it presses down: better a world on the shoulder, like Atlas, than God’s hand on the heart, like David. Spurgeon

My moisture is turned into the drought of summer: 3 thoughts: 1) cried until he could cry no more; 2) spiritually dry; 3) so weak, about to die.

King James Version Psalm 32

5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee,

And mine iniquity have I not hid.

I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD;

And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Again, as in Psalm 51, David takes full responsibility. He discovers that a prompt fulfillment of his confession is followed by prompt forgiveness. I acknowledged my sin: He is not only confessing sin but guilt as well; to whom? The LORD, not men, not priest, but God.

And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. The sin, the guilt, the burden was all pardoned and removed. God has pardoned, forgotten, and restored!

Selah: (calah); suspension (of music), i.e. pause . A pause is needed in the Psalm, a pause to reflect on God’s majesty, a pause to reflect on His grace, as Dr. Wemp used to say-Well Glory! Came across this, author unknown, but is true to Selah:

“Pause, my soul, adore and wonder,

Ask, O why such love to me?

Grace has put me in the number

Of the Saviour’s family.

Hallelujah!

Thanks, eternal thanks, to thee.”

King James Version Psalm 32

6  For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee †in a time when thou mayest be found:

Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

Do you think David is saying something like; listen, i sinned, in my pride I refused to admit it, and I learned a tragic lesson. Sin will eat at you, destroy your relationship with God, destroy your health, destroy relationships,and to avoid all that, pray asking for forgiveness. Pray, God is always available, pray, no sin is too big for Him to handle.

King James Version Psalm 32

7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;

Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:

I will guide thee with mine eye.

Vs. 7 begins with Thou art my hiding place; what a difference from vs. 4, were he was fearful of the presence of God, to now a hiding place, a refuge, a very present help in time of trouble.

Because you are my hiding place you will preserve me, that is; trouble will do me no real harm in the presence of the Lord. Here we see 3 unusual statements:

Vs. 5-Things from the past: Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

Vs. 6a The joyous present: Thou art my hiding place

Vs. 6b The wonderful future: Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

Think of these characteristics as a never ending circle: Mercy and grace just spinning around the repentant sinner.

Then Selah: There was need of a pause, for love so amazing needs to be pondered, and joy so great demands quiet contemplation, since language fails to express it.

He became sin, who knew no sin That we might become His righteousness He humbled himself and carried the cross Love so amazing, love so amazing Jesus Messiah, name above all names Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. Chris Tomlin

King James Version Psalm 32

8  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:

I will guide thee with mine eye.

Here, Yahweh is the speaker and gives David an answer to his prayer. He will teach His children to walk in the way of integrity, the Holy Spirit and His word will instruct us.

The phrase, I will guide you with mine eye, requires us to keep our eyes on Jesus.

The Treasury of David, Volume 2: Psalms 27–57 Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings

No other than God himself can undertake so much as is promised in the text. For here is faith

John Donne

The Treasury of David, Volume 2: Psalms 27–57 Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings

I will instruct thee,” “I will teach thee,” “I will guide thee,” teaches us three properties of a good teacher. First, to make the people understand the way of salvation; secondly, to go before them; thirdly, to watch over them and their ways.—Archibald Symson.

King James Version Psalm 32

9  Be ye not as the horse,

Or as the mule, which have no understanding:

Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle,

Lest they come near unto thee.

10  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked:

But he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Now we have a warning, obey willingly, follow willingly, don’t be like a wild animal that has to be led around by a bit and bridle.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

James

King James Version Chapter 1

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

He that trusteth in the Lord , mercy will compass him about. Faith on one side and wickedness or evil on the other. Our famous quote master, anonymous stated: Faith in God is the great charmer of life’s cares, and he who possesses it, dwells in an atmosphere of grace, surrounded with a body guard of mercies.

Spurgeon stated another way: The wicked have a hive of wasps around them; but we have a swarm of bees storing honey for us.

King James Version Psalm 32

11  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous:

And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Service and obedience is joyful. Then rejoice, the Hebrew word means to spin around with joy or excitement.

Shout for joy; our joy in the Lord, or excitement, contentment should be demonstrated to those around us, it should be contagious.