Psalm 32, A Moaning Mule Finds Mercy

Of David. A maskil

The unknown word "maskil" is presumably a literary term, possibly a Hebrew word implying wisdom and skill.

Psalm 32: 1-2, Happy

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, 

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him 

and in whose spirit is no deceit.

This is a penitential psalm, like Psalms 6, 51, 102, 130 and 143.  In many of David's songs, he claims righteousness; he claims to stand on the side of justice; he fights deception, corruption and oppression. But in the penitential psalms, David admits he is selfish and sinful and has no claim to God's love.  It is possible that these are the prayer songs of a more mature, sober man, humbled by events such as his affair with Bathsheba.

The word "blessed" here smacks, to me, of religiosity, of words reserved for a church setting.  But the word simply means, "happy", says Kidner and indeed, "happy" is probably a better word.

The New Testament apostle Paul quotes the first two verses in Romans 4: 6-8.

Psalm 32: 3-5, Silent and wasting

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; 

my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Selah.

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.

Selah.

Stubborn resistance to confession and to forgiveness is debilitating.  David is nauseous, weak; he cannot sleep. His energy is sapped as if he were under the July Texas sun (or the Palestinian sun.) And so he is forced, slowly, to conclude that he needs to go to God and confess.

Psalm 32: 6-7, My hiding place

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.

You are my hiding place; 

you will protect me from trouble 

and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Selah.

And now, as the darkness clears and David experiences forgiveness, he encourages those around him to seek the same forgiveness.  Like the rocks and crags of Judea, God is a "hiding place" for the desperate and distraught.

Now that David can hear God, God responds:

Psalm 32: 8-9, YHWH responds

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 

I will counsel you and watch over you.

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.

Our relationship with God involves a conversation, negotiation, understanding. (Often called "free will.")  We are not to be like domestic animals that are pulled around by the leash, without understanding. David implies that his time of departure from God's path was a time of stubbornness.  He was a mule fighting the bit and bridle.

Psalm 32: 10-11, Unfailing love

Many are the woes of the wicked, 

but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; 

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

In this psalm, David's troubles are his own fault and he knows it. Yet he finds forgiveness, love and joy.