Psalm 32

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Key Verse:
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Key Outline:
1. v. 1-2 Blessing of forgiven
2. v. 3-5 Confession needed
3. v. 6-8 God will preserve me
4. v. 9-11 Be wise, receive mercy, rejoice

Key Observation:
An early teaching of confession bringing restoration.

Memory Verse:
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Devotion:
McGee makes a persuasive case for this psalm in two ways. First he points out it is a maskil. A maskil, according to McGee, means to have wisdom or understanding. He feels this psalm is for future instruction to God’s people. Further, he points out that this psalm is a psalm David is using to teach the people how to confess and receive mercy, not one of penance for himself.

Telling people I am sorry seems to be a full time occupation with me. Most of the time, when I do appropriately confess and apologize to my friends, they are most gracious and forgiving. How wonderful it is that God forgives us! We are saved by our belief. But when I wrong God, I must come to Him and confess to be restored to fellowship. Chafer says it thus:

Believing and confessing are two widely differing human conditions, or obligations, and should never be confused or interchanged. The lost are never saved by confessing, and the saved are never restored by believing.

When I am confronted with my sin, I may twist and turn in the wind, but eventually to God I must come. A synonym for confession is to agree with God. When you are truly confessing, are you not repenting and agreeing that God is right? 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are not being saved all over again, as some would teach. No, we are being restored to fellowship with the Creator God, who desires that we should walk after Him. Our state of our soul is settled forever when we believe. Otherwise Christ would have need to be crucified all over again for each time we sin. It is finished! Once for all time, Christ paid for the sins of the world. And His sacrifice for you is conditioned on your belief. Will you not believe?