Unless otherwise stated, all citations are taken from the New International Version (NIV).
This is a penitential psalm. Paul quotes these opening words to show that David understood the reality of grace (Rom. 4:6-8).
What is a “maskil”? The NET note states, “The meaning of the Hebrew term (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning ‘to be prudent; to be wise.’ Various options are: ‘a contemplative song,’ ‘a song imparting moral wisdom,’ or ‘a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.’”
(32:1) Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
The complete and total forgiveness of God brings “happiness” into your life. The word “blessed” (ʾašhrê) is an archaic word in English. How would you define the word “blessed”? In his book Happiness (2015), Randy Alcorn describes taking an informal survey of over 900 people, asking them, “What does the word ‘blessed’ mean?” The answers ranged from “covered,” “favored,” “lucky,” or “grace.” These answers, of course, are all wrong.
“Blessed” means “happy.” Jacobson and Tanner,[1] Wilson,[2] Alter,[3] Kidner[4] and VanGemeren[5] all translate this word as “happy” or “happiness.” It seems that traditionalism has kept the word “blessed” in modern translations. This is sad because older readers would know that the word “blessed” meant “happy.” But modern readers do not make this association. More modern and dynamic translations render this word as “how joyful” (CSB) or “what joy” (NLT).
“Transgressions” “sins” “iniquity” (NASB). David uses three different words for sin. VanGemeren[6] holds that these could simply be synonyms for one another. However, we hold that this refers to all different shapes and sizes of sin. Hence, David is saying, “No matter what you’ve done… No matter who you’ve done it with… All of it can be forgiven!”
“Transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” This describes two complementary types of atonement: “lifting or removing” (“forgiven”) and “concealing from sight” (“covered”).[7]
(32:2) Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
“The LORD does not count against them.” Paul cites this passage (Rom. 4:6-8) to emphasize that our forgiveness is forensic and judicial. It isn’t that God’s forgiveness makes us people who act righteously; rather, God forgiveness declares us righteous before him.
Forgiveness parallels not having “deceit.” This must mean that we need honesty when coming to God for forgiveness.
(32:3) When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
This describes the psychological and physiological effects of guilt on the human condition.[8] We still experience this today when we refuse to come into the light about a sin issue.
(32:4) For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
“Your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped.” When we’re hiding sin, our zeal and excitement for God turns to a burden and an obligation. Have you ever been out in the sun without water? You sweat through your shirt; you can’t think of anything but the heat; you want to hide in the shade and not the sunlight. This is the way it feels when we’re hiding sin. Exhausting!
(32:5) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.”
“[I] did not cover up my iniquity… you forgave the guilt of my sin.” We have two options: Either we can cover up our sin, or we can allow God to forgive our sins. Once again, David uses three different words for sin in this one verse (e.g. “sin” “iniquity” “transgressions”). All are forgiven.
(32:6) Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
“While you may be found.” We have a window of opportunity for forgiveness. When we realize that God is bringing conviction, we need to act on it.
(32:7) You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Instead of hiding from God, David hid in God’s safe presence when he realized his sin.
(32:8) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
It seems that God has taken over the pen here. He promises to teach and lead us. When we experience forgiveness, it’s amazing how open we become to his leadership, counsel, and teaching.
(32:9) Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
When you want a horse to turn, you jerk harshly on the bit and bridle in its mouth. God doesn’t want a relationship with us that is similar to a stubborn animal. God wants us to agree with him in the heart, and be persuaded in the mind (Rom. 12:2). He doesn’t want to have to force us to listen to him. He counsels and teaches, but doesn’t coerce.
(32:10) Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Humans are wildly sinful, but God is wildly faithful. Jacobson and Tanner paraphrase this verse in the form of a question: “Would you rather drag around all of your sorrows or be surrounded at all times by God’s hesed?”[9]
(32:11) Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
David didn’t view his forgiveness as a cold, abstract reality. He felt that it should lead to praise and thanks.
Paraphrase of Psalm 32
“You will be happy when you experience complete and total forgiveness from Me. How did it feel to keep silent about your sin? The psychological and physical effects of guilt are very real. Take it easy on yourself! Instead of trying to cover up your sin, let Me cover it and forgive it. Come to Me right now and let me be your protection. You might be confused as to how you can move forward after this moral fall. But I’ll guide you—if you let me. Don’t turn back to your old way of life, fighting Me with who is in charge of leading your life. Don’t wrestle with Me like a dumb horse or mule! Let Me be the leader of your life. You won’t regret it. It will only lead to joy and rejoicing.”
[1] Rolf A. Jacobson and Beth Tanner, “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1-41,” in The Book of Psalms, ed. E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014), 60.
[2] Gerald H. Wilson, Psalms, vol. 1, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 94.
[3] Robert Alter, The Book of Psalms (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009), 3.
[4] Derek Kidner, Psalms 1-72: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 64.
[5] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 53.
[6] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 271.
[7] Derek Kidner, Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 151.
[8] Wilson states that this might be too modern of an interpretation. However, he also notes that “the suffering appears less as the result of divine assault than the outworking of the psalmist’s own repressed guilt.” He adds, “The destructive effects of repressed and unexpressed emotions and anxieties can be powerfully experienced in physical pain and psychological disintegration.” Gerald H. Wilson, Psalms, vol. 1, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 547.
[9] Rolf A. Jacobson and Beth Tanner, “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41,” in The Book of Psalms, ed. E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014), 309.