Psalms 32

Ps 32 This wisdom psalm of confession and thanksgiving encourages and exhorts the godly to learn from the psalmist’s experience of sin, denial, confession, and forgiveness. This psalm was one of the seven psalms of penitence used in the early church (also Pss 6, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).32:1-2 The Lord’s forgiveness restores people to fellowship with him, clears them of guilt, and gives them great joy. Paul quoted this text when explaining justification by faith alone (Rom 4:4-8).

32:3-5 The psalmist acknowledges his own sin (see 19:12-13; 25:7, 11, 15-22) and his resistance to confessing sin. The Lord pressed him hard until he confessed his guilt.

32:4 The psalmist attributes his suffering directly to the Lord’s hand of discipline (cp. 38:2; 39:10).

32:5 God has forgiven the guilt and rebellion of 32:1. The Lord’s nature is to reconcile and forgive (78:38; 85:2; 130:4), but he requires confession and repentance.

32:6 The godly will learn from the psalmist’s experience to pray for forgiveness before it is too late.

32:7 The Lord promises to be his people’s hiding place (31:20). Instead of being overwhelmed by terror (31:13), the psalmist is surrounded by songs of victory.

32:8 God interrupts the psalmist’s teaching with a message that invites the godly to receive the Lord’s wisdom (see 5:8; 23:3; 25:4-6).

32:9 The senseless person is not wise. Rejecting the Lord’s counsel ruins life and makes one like an animal (see Isa 1:3; Jas 3:3).

32:10 Difficulties common to all of life will ensnare the wicked, whereas the Lord promises to protect the godly with his care.