Psalm 32: The Blessing of Forgiveness and Wise Living

Psalm 32 has a special significance in the life of the church and the Christian. It is one of the seven penitential psalms (6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143)

The debt that is against you (vv. 1–2).

The debt that is against you (vv. 1–2). God sees what you do and keeps His record. David had covered his sins on earth, but he could not cover the record in heaven. When we confess, God wipes the record clean (1 John 1:9).

The nature of the sin is not as important here as is the blessedness of forgiveness. The three verbs express the absoluteness of divine forgiveness: (1) “are forgiven” (neśûy lit., “carried away”) is the act of removal of sin, guilt, and the remembrance of sin (cf. TWOT, 2:600); (2) “are covered” (kesûy) is the gracious act of atonement by which the sinner is reconciled and the sin is a matter of the past, so that the Lord does not bring it up anymore as a ground for his displeasure (cf. TWOT, 1:448); (3) “does not count” (lōʾ yaḥšōḇ) expresses God’s attitude toward those forgiven as “justified” (cf. TWOT, 1:330).

There is an expression of joyous excitement in these verses. The voice of wisdom is heard in the last colon where the blessedness of forgiveness is contingent on integrity. The Lord hates those who purposely sin against him. God knows the “spirit” of man, whether the request of forgiveness is expressive of true repentance and sorrow for sin or of regrets for the consequences. To teach the godly both the blessedness of forgiveness and the way of integrity, David has given us a psalm to lead the godly into the path of wisdom. The joy of forgiveness was a reality among the OT saints (cf. Rom 4:6–8). How great is the blessedness of all who have tasted of God’s forgiveness in Christ (cf. 1 John 1:9)! However, God expects no less from those whom he has forgiven than blamelessness (cf. Rev 14:5).

The pain that is within you (vv. 3–5).

The pain that is within you (vv. 3–5). Sin sometimes affects the body, and God’s disciplines are painful but needful (Heb. 12:4–11). Here we see David “stewing in his juices” during the time he was trying to hide his sin. David also became like an old man carrying a heavy burden.

32:3–5 The psalmist recounts a personal testimony to illustrate the power of confessing sin. During a situation when he was silent and unrepentant, he suffered and continually felt Yahweh’s punishment. Only after he acknowledged and confessed his sins to Yahweh did he enjoy Yahweh’s forgiveness.

A Personal Example (32:3–5)

IN THESE THREE verses, the psalmist describes a personal experience that moves from initial resistance to confession (32:3–4) to reluctant but complete admission of sin (32:5). The two movements in the narrative—first resistance, then confession—are accompanied by contrasting descriptions of the consequence of the psalmist’s attitude.

The flood that is around you (vv. 6–7).

The flood that is around you (vv. 6–7). God uses difficult circumstances to bring you back to Himself. In fact, because of his sins, David went through many deep waters with his family. David went from silence (v. 3) to singing (v. 7) because he finally was honest with God and confessed his sins (vv. 5–6).

III. God’s Protection (32:6–7)

6–7 Suffering need not be a form of discipline for sin (cf. Job). However, adversity is always an occasion for the wise in heart to draw near to the Lord in prayer (v. 6) and to find solace in him (vv. 6–7). The psalmist encourages the “godly” (ḥasîḏ, v. 6; see 4:3) to draw near to God in his affirmation of God’s ability to protect and to deliver from adversity. Even in the greatest of adversities, likened to the rush of water pushing through the narrow confines of a wadi, the Lord will protect those who have sought refuge in him. He is their “hiding place” (v. 7; “shelter” in 31:20). Their joy in deliverance expresses itself in joyful shouts as a tribute to God’s fidelity.

You are my hiding place. The psalmist continues the sideways exhortation of the reader/hearers by addressing to Yahweh a personal expression of confidence in the protective care of God. The “hiding place” terminology (seter) directs us back to the strong refuge motif that dominated Psalm 31. As there, the psalmist of Psalm 32 encourages the audience to trust that Yahweh provides protection in the midst of trouble; God will “guard/protect” him from trouble (32:7). God surrounds the faithful, not with strong defensive walls, as might be expected, but with “songs of deliverance.” It is as if the confident songs of those who have placed their trust in Yahweh soar upward to form an impenetrable barrier to repulse the enemy.

The road that is before you (vv. 8–11).

The road that is before you (vv. 8–11). David was like a stubborn animal that needed to be broken. When you are out of the will of God, your decisions will often create problems instead of solve them. The way gets harder. Only God’s hesed/love (v. 10) will bring you God’s simchah/joy (v. 11).

VII. Rejoicing in Forgiveness (32:11)

11 The assurances of God’s love, protection, guidance, and forgiveness mark the way of wisdom. Therefore the godly are “blessed” (vv. 1–2). Even when they sin, they do not continue in adversity like the wicked. The Lord protects them and changes their “groaning” (v. 3) into loud, joyful “songs of deliverance” (v. 7). The encouragement to wise living concludes with an exhortation to rejoice. The exhortation to “rejoice” (cf. 5:11; 33:1; Phil 3:1; 4:1; 1 Thess 5:16) does not call for making a vain effort to be happy when one does not feel like it. The godly who are mindful of all the benefits (forgiveness, protection, guidance) of the Lord will rejoice! The benefits are not indiscriminate gifts but are limited to the “righteous,” who are “upright in heart.” These descriptions parallel the blessing in v. 2 on those “in whose spirit is no deceit.”

By trusting in what the Lord has done to overcome the barrier of sin and by trusting in the Lord as your guide and faithful companion, you will find that sheer happiness of which the psalmist sings.