Psalm 32

Like Psalm 51 of last week, this is a penitential psalm, one of repentance. He begins with two beatitudes proclaiming the path to happiness lies through the forgiveness of sins. This OT word corresponds to the Greek word also translated blessed in the Sermon on the Mount. This time happiness, blessings, or congratulations are due to those whose sins are covered and forgiven. Again we find the two common words for sin, the first of which implies rebelling. The next two words for sin imply perversity and deceitfulness. Note they are clean because God has made them clean or declared them clean and pardoned.

Verses 3-4 give text book accounts of a conscience-stricken soul. As some in the South would say, “He is et up with guilt!” As long as he stuffed his guilt inside and tried to keep it to himself, the more physical symptoms of his grief afflicted him. There is ample evidence today that guilt can physically eat away at people both through obvious ailments like headaches and ulcers and by more subtle things like disturbed sleep or wild dreams. Note his pain continued 24/7 around the clock. If this is still David repenting after Bathsheba, you can certainly understand such strong feeling.

Selah – This word is scattered all over the Psalms, and no one knows for sure what it means. Scholars are pretty much agreed it's a musical notation of some sort. When used elsewhere, it can mean to make light of or to weigh and balance. Perhaps it has to do with rhythm?

Next, the psalm makes two quick shifts. First, on the basis of discovering forgiveness, he challenges all God's faithful to pray and call on Him for protection. For those who do, the waters of the great flood will not reach to them. Did you see in the last week a storm hit New Orleans, and once again the pumps were overwhelmed and the streets were flooded. If your spiritual pumps can't keep you dry, call on the Lord, and He will protect you.

He shifts again to praise: God has become his hiding place, shelter, protection. The Lord will shield him from his adversary, his enemy. In the larger analysis, ONLY God has the power to shield us from Satan. The Psalmist becomes engulfed with praise, surrounded by it. I enjoy listening to music through earphones, which enable the sound to surround me so I can experience its richness as if I were in the room where it is being recorded. So David does here. “You surround me with songs of salvation!

8 – Once again we shift, and God is talking: “I will teach you how to live wisely and morally. “In the way you should go.” This likely means the moral way, the way Jesus called the straight and narrow. “Go” can also mean walk, so He's talking about a way of life, not just a decision or so. He amplifies that by saying He will give counsel, that is, He WILL help with decisions in life.

KJV says “I will guide thee with mine eye.” How does someone guide another with his eye, even God's eye? I think of the mothers I've seen sitting in the choir and fixing her eyes on her children acting up in the pew. One accidental glance in her direction, and the kid is straightened out! But I really think God is promising to “keep His eye on” us, ready to help and guide as we need Him now.

In summary, look back at this writer's testimony. He knew he had done something very wrong, and it was eating him alive. The more he tried to escape it, the tighter the knot in his stomach. Finally, he dumped it all before the Lord. When he did so, his outpouring of confession was met by God's outpouring of forgiveness. Instead of trying to hide FROM God, he began hiding IN God. Now he submits himself to the guidance of the Lord and has found great happiness.

Have you got stuff eating on you?

Let go of it.

Pourit out before God.

And accept His forgiveness.

PS – don't forget to thank Him!