1 Of David: Maschil. Blessed [is] the one forgiven [as to] transgression, covered [as to] sin.
2 Blessed [is] the man to whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, and in his spirit [there is] no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day.
4 For by day and by night thy hand is heavy upon me; my moisture hath been changed into the droughts of summer. Selah.
5 I make known my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not covered; I said I will confess concerning my transgressions unto Jehovah, and thou hast taken away the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 Because of this shall every godly one pray unto thee at a time for finding [thee]; surely in a flood of many waters they shall not come unto him.
7 Thou [art] a hiding-place for me; thou preservest me from distress, thou surroundest me with shouts of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will fix mine eye upon thee.
9 Be ye not as a horse [or] as a mule, without understanding: with a bit and bridle his mouth is to be curbed lest he come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows [are there] to the wicked; but he that trusteth in Jehovah, mercy shall encompass him.
11 Be glad in Jehovah and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy, all ye upright of heart.
Notes on Psalm 32
There is another want of the soul still deeper than the distress we have seen, deeper than death; the need that transgression be forgiven, that sin be covered by God, and that Jehovah should impute no iniquity. Thus only is guile effaced from the spirit. This is now prophetically announced; for it is not actually enjoyed till they look on their pierced Messiah: see Zechariah 12:1313The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; (Zechariah 12:13). Self-justification on the contrary hinders all blessing.
It is indeed an “instruction.” The Jew had long resisted genuine confession, without which as there is no truth of heart, no integrity, so also there can be no sense of divine forgiveness, though of course all were vain without Messiah made sin on the cross. But at length he does confess, and Jehovah forgives plenteously, verses 3, 4 showing how painfully he was forced by grace to that point. If verse 7 gives the heart’s consequent expression of confidence in Jehovah, verse 8 is the consoling and strengthening answer. Verses 9, 10 are an exhortation which the assured Jew addresses to all around, closing with a call to the righteous and upright in heart to rejoice and be glad in Jehovah.— We know how the apostle in Rom. 4 was led to use the introductory verses in the most unrestricted way to illustrate the gospel of God. Its blessedness through Christ dead and risen comes on all that believe. It is in reserve for Israel in the latter day, when they bowing to Jesus at length confess their sins.