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The Joy of Forgiveness
Psalm 32 is a song about the happiness of forgiveness. It moves from the pain of hiding sin to confession, then to prayer, guidance, trust, and a final call to rejoice in Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this psalm, forgiven people are called blessed because sin is forgiven, covered, and not counted against them. The speaker contrasts silence and groaning with confession and forgiveness, then speaks of prayer, protection, instruction, trust in Yahweh, and joyful praise.
Psalms 32:1–11Main takeaway
Psalm 32 teaches that honest confession to Yahweh leads into forgiven joy, prayer, teachability, and trust.
Explore the poem and its images
01Blessed are the forgivenThe psalm begins with blessing. Forgiveness is described in several ways: disobedience is forgiven, sin is covered, and iniquity is not counted.
Explanation
The psalm begins with blessing. Forgiveness is described in several ways: disobedience is forgiven, sin is covered, and iniquity is not counted. The blessed person is also marked by honesty, because there is no deceit in that person’s spirit.
02Silence was painfulBefore confession, the speaker kept silent. The song uses strong physical pictures: bones wasting away, groaning all day, Yahweh’s hand being heavy, and strength drying up in summer heat.
Explanation
Before confession, the speaker kept silent. The song uses strong physical pictures: bones wasting away, groaning all day, Yahweh’s hand being heavy, and strength drying up in summer heat. In this poem, hiding sin is linked with deep trouble rather than rest.
03Confession was met with forgivenessThe turning point comes when the speaker stops hiding sin. He acknowledges his sin to Yahweh, does not hide his iniquity, and says plainly that he will confess his transgressions to Yahweh.
Explanation
The turning point comes when the speaker stops hiding sin. He acknowledges his sin to Yahweh, does not hide his iniquity, and says plainly that he will confess his transgressions to Yahweh. The result stated in the psalm is immediate and clear: Yahweh forgave the iniquity of his sin.
04Pray and do not be stubbornBecause of this, the godly are told to pray while Yahweh may be found. Yahweh is called a hiding place who preserves from trouble and surrounds with songs of deliverance.
Explanation
Because of this, the godly are told to pray while Yahweh may be found. Yahweh is called a hiding place who preserves from trouble and surrounds with songs of deliverance. The next instruction calls for teachability, not the stubbornness of a horse or mule.
05Trust leads to joyThe psalm closes with a contrast and a call. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness surrounds the one who trusts in Yahweh.
Explanation
The psalm closes with a contrast and a call. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness surrounds the one who trusts in Yahweh. Therefore the righteous and upright in heart are told to be glad, rejoice, and shout for joy in Yahweh.
Questions to explore
01How does the opening describe forgiveness?
Notice forgiven, covered, and not counted. See Psalms 32:1 and Psalms 32:2.
02What changes between silence and confession?
Compare wasting and groaning with Yahweh’s forgiveness. See Psalms 32:3, Psalms 32:4, and Psalms 32:5.
03What pictures does the psalm use for trust in Yahweh?
Look for hiding place, preservation, loving kindness, and joy. See Psalms 32:7, Psalms 32:10, and Psalms 32:11.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 32:1–11
1Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.
5I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.
7You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
9Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
10Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh.
11Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!