Psalm 32
The Joy of Forgiveness
*Written by David
*Contemplation of David.
*"Contemplation" means looking at, thinking about, gazing at, and being aware of God. It usually is a type of prayer or praise.
*Psalm 32, describes the blessedness of forgiveness.
*Life's most important lessons about sin, confession, and forgiveness are shared by David in Psalm 32.
Verses 1-2: Happiness of the forgiven person.
Verses 3-4: The physical and psychological effects of unconfessed sins.
Verse 5: The simple remedy of confession to obtain God's forgiveness.
Verses 6-7: When we truly ask God for forgiveness, we can experience the benefits of prayer.
Verses 8-9: Divine instruction.
Verses 10-11: Personal witness.
Verse 1: "Transgression, deceit, sin, iniquity", are all four Old Testament words for "sin".
- "Transgression", means rebellion, choose to knowingly disobey God.
- "Deceit", means the intentional misleading or beguilling of another..
- "Sin", means doing wrong.
- "Iniquity", means evil, gross injustice, and wickedness.
- Most biblical scholars believe that Psalm 32 and Psalm 51, were responses to David's sin with Bathsheba(II Samuel 11).
- "Forgiveness" is a removal of sin, guilt, and punishment.
- If David can say, blessed is he whose sins re forgiven, how much more can we as christian's say blessed is he whose sins are forgiven?
Verse 2: "Impute", means to reckon or count. When a person means it from their heart, and they ask the Lord for forgiveness of their sins, the Lord no longer "counts" their sins against them. The forgets the sins and our chart is wiped clean.
Verse 3: "Groaning", means complaining. This speaks of the time after David committed adultery and did not repent of it and which continued until the prophet, Nathan, brought it to David's attention. "My bones grew old through my groaning(complaining) all the day long", describes the condition of a mind under deep trouble at the remembrance of sins, and the apprehension of the wrath of God continually without stopping. This can lead to a physical and mental sickness. David was miserable until he confessed all of his sins to God and was forgiven. Sinful living brings sorrow and pain.
Verse 4: David was experiencing the results of the sins he had committed.
Verse 5: David confesses his sins to God and God forgave him. The very first step in getting something from God, is to confess all sins. Sometimes it's hard for a person to confess their sins. The very best thing to do is to get the sin out in the open and deal with it.
Verses 6: "When You maybe found", means while God's spirit is prompting your spirit to be responsive. Otherwise, God's Holy Spirit is eventually pushed away(put on hold). Genesis 6:3, "And the Lord said My Spirit shall not always strive with man". This verse can mean that God's patience is worn out with people, whom never come to Him and confess their sins. A persons conscience can become siered (I Timothy 4:2). "A seared conscience", means ones conscience has become insensitive and does not work properly, and has dulled the sense of right and wrong.
Verse 7: Whe we have received the forgiveness of God for our sins, we need to allow God to lead us so that we do not keep returning to sin again. Notice that David uses the words "my" and "me" to refer to his salvation. In other words, my salvation is mine and your salvation is yours.
Verse 8: "Instruct", "teach", and "guide" are words that apply to biblical wisdom. "I will guide you with My Eye", refers to God seeing everything.
Verse 9: In other words, we are not to be stubborn.
Verse 10: Those who will not follow God, will experience sorrows. These sorrows will be felt in this life and the "after life", which is hell. Those who will follow God, will receive the mercy of God in this life and will be rewarded in the "after life", which will be to live in heaven with the Lord forever.
Verse 11: The righteous of God are to be glad and rejoice. The righteous of God are to shout for joy.
