Psalm 32
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A maskil.[of David.

1 Blessed is he
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man
    whose sin the Lord does not count against him
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
    my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.[b]
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.’
    And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you

while you may be found;
    surely when the mighty waters rise
    they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding-place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you watch over you.
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.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the man who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!
(NIV)


Psalm 32:a psalm of David, Maschil. – This is the second of seven repenting psalms other psalms are 6,32, 38, 51, 102, 130. In Psalm 6 David tells of guilt, this Psalm tells of the joy and healing when sins are forgiven. In Christian faith this is one of the seven atoning psalms. (Psalms that ask God for givenness.) The psalm opens in two parts with blessedness of thanksgiving followed by description of illness that David has seen as divine punishment.
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It is thought by commentaries that this psalm is in responses to David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. chapter 11). The guilt of it is on his conscience and a heavy burden, too heavy for him to bear, and the punishment of it is intolerable.
David has lost contact with God, and he became physically sick with the guilt he was carrying.
David was miserable and he needed to confess to God what he had done and beg forgiveness.
His torment continued, until he confessed to God what he had done.
When David confesses, immediately he follows on with the grant of forgiveness from God who sees and knows everything. David jumps with joy and thankfulness, he can hear God again David has been forgiven.
I wonder do we carry around guilt on what we have done. Do we wish things could have been better said? When at last we settle the upset that has been caused don’t we feel better. Don’t we wish we never said or done the thing that separated us from God?
When we are truly sorry and repent, God is there and will welcome us back like the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-31).

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