Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 32

"Psalm 32:
The psalm describes the blessedness of forgiveness as no other does.
This is the theme of especially the first five verses, which include the happiness of the forgiven man (verses 1-2), the physical and

psychological effects of unconfessed sin (verses 3-4), and the simple remedy of confession to obtain God’s forgiveness (verse 5).

On this basis David can experience prayer (verses 6-7), divine instruction (verses 8-9), and personal witness (verses 10-11).
The over-all thrust, intent, and development of Psalm 32 may be summarized as follows: Life’s most important lessons about sin, confession, and forgiveness are skillfully shared by David through two avenues of approach.
I. First Avenue: Remembering These Lessons (32:1-5).
A. Lessons about Results (32:1-2);
B. Lesson about Resistance (32:3-4);
C. Lessons about Responses (32:5).
II. Second Avenue: Relaying These Lessons (32:6-11).
A. Lessons about Responses (32:6-7);
B. Lessons about Resistance (32:8-9);
C. Lessons about Results (32:10-11).

Title:
“A Maschil” in the heading introduces a new technical term.
It could indicate that Psalm 32 was a “contemplative poem”, or a “psalm of understanding”, or a “skillful psalm”.

Psalm 32:1 Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.
Most scholars agree (that this psalm and Psalm 51), were responses to David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11).

Psalm 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
Namely, from a full and open confession of my sins, and from pouring out my soul to God in serious and fervent prayers for pardon and peace.

Psalm 32:4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
Meaning the afflicting hand of God, which is not joyous, but grievous, and heavy to be borne.

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.
Until the very moment before the flood came, the people could

have asked God to forgive them of their sin and God would have forgiven them, and saved them from the flood.
When the rain started coming down, it was too late.

Psalm 32:7 Thou [art] my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I have placed myself under his wings; I have covered myself with the robe of his righteousness; and now, therefore, I am safe.

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.
“Horse … mule”:
I.e., don’t be stubborn.
BooksOfTheBible/Charles Spurgeon