This is one of seven penitential Psalms (6, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). This is a confessional Psalm relating to the life of David. It is often matched with Psalm 51 in response to the episode of sin with Bathsheba. Psalm 51 came first and then Psalm 32.
This is also the first Maschil psalm (42, 44, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55, 74, 78, 88, 89, 142). The meaning of the word is lost. It's translated different ways: skillful song, song of instruction, or contemplative song. It may have been instruction to the choirmaster about how the song was to be sung. In the NKJV it was translated 'A Contemplation'.
A Psalm of David. A Contemplation.
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
The 3 Old Testament words for falling short of God's standard show up here: transgression, sin and iniquity. The Treasury of David refers to these three as the trinity of sin. These might be understood better as rebellion, failure and perversion. These three things are overcome or 'covered' only by the grace & mercy of God. For a long time, David lived in the sin and kept it hid as he tried to cover it and keep it secret. When it is finally confessed, David is blessed, not by what he has done, but by the forgiveness, by the covering of sin, by the grace that does not impute iniquity. The word 'impute' is a bookkeeping term. The confessed sin was not held in an account against David. It is a blessing to have no deceit in your spirit.
Paul quotes this Psalm in Romans 4:6-8.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
This is David's personal experience. It's amazing how the burden of unconfessed sin can bring physical ailment. While David was silent, he felt the weariness of age. The presence of sin and the conviction of the Holy Spirit was heavy on him. It was relentless, present day and night. You can imagine David as being active and alive, in good shape with bright eyes and a good attitude. Now with this sin in his life he is beat down, depressed and finds nothing to be happy about. When David confessed his sin to the Lord, that iniquity was forgiven. See 1 John 1:9.
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
Verses three through five were David's personal experiences and he imparts the lessons he learned to others here. Because David went through this and learned others can learn from his experiences. Think of the countless saints who have read of David's fall in sin and found hope in their own life of deliverance and forgiveness of sin. David's words bring us hope. The Lord was a hiding place and He preserved him from trouble. David felt surrounded with songs of deliverance. We can find these same things in the Lord. We can hide in Him and be preserved from the ravages of sin when we confess them to Him. He will sooth our bruised soul with the songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
The Lord will give our life direction and purpose. He will instruct us in our life. He is keeping His eye on us. We should act as His eye instructs and not wait for earthquakes, thunderbolts or acts of wrath from the Lord. The only way to tame a mule or horse is to break them. Then they are led around by a bit and bridle to get their direction correct. We should heed the direction of the Lord. We must be teachable. We shouldn't need to broken and then led around by a bridle.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
As sin is left unconfessed in the life of the man who refuses to turn to God, sorrow begins to amass. Those who choose a wicked life are destined to sorrow because they remain convicted of their sin. God's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. For us, that is trust in the work that was done on the cross. This is our source of mercy and grace. It is forgiveness of sin. That should make each one of us be glad in the Lord and rejoice. Righteousness is now imputed to us from Jesus Christ.
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