INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 32 [A PSALM], OF DAVID, MASCHIL. This is the first of the psalms that bears this title: some think it is the name of a musical instrument, on which this psalm was sung; others the first word of a song, to the tune of which it was sung, as Aben Ezra; some say it is so called, b... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED [IS HE WHOSE] TRANSGRESSION [IS] FORGIVEN,.... Or "lifted up" m; bore and carried away: sin is a transgression of the law; the guilt of it charged upon the conscience of a sinner is a heavy burden, too heavy for him to bear, and the punishment of it is intolerable: forgiveness is a removal o... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED [IS] THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD IMPUTETH NOT INIQUITY,.... Or "does not think of it" n; with respect unto men, at least to the harm of them; his thoughts are thoughts of peace, and not of evil; their sins and iniquities he remembers no more; he does not charge them with them, he does not recko... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I KEPT SILENCE,.... Was unthoughtful of sin, unconcerned about it, and made no acknowledgment and confession of it to God, being quite senseless and stupid; the Targum adds, "from the words of the law"; which seems to point at sin as the cause of what follows; MY BONES WAXED OLD; THROUGH MY RO... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR DAY AND NIGHT THY HAND WAS HEAVY UPON ME,.... Meaning the afflicting hand of God, which is not joyous, but grievous, and heavy to be borne; especially without his gracious presence, and the discoveries of his love: this continued night and day, without any intermission; and may design some viole... [ Continue Reading ]
I ACKNOWLEDGED MY SIN UNTO THEE,.... The sin of Adam, in which he was concerned; original sin, the corruption of his nature, the sin that dwelt in him, his private and secret sins, which none knew but God and himself; even all his sins, which were many, with all their aggravated circumstances; where... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS SHALL EVERYONE THAT IS GODLY PRAY UNTO THEE,.... Meaning either that the success he had met with, in acknowledging his sin, would encourage others also to take a like step, and make their supplications to the Lord also; or that every godly person should pray to God for the same blessing of... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU [ART] MY HIDING PLACE,.... In time of trouble; see Psalms 27:5; so Christ is said to be, Isaiah 32:2. "Thou shall preserve me from trouble"; not from having it; for in this world the saints must have tribulation, and through it enter the kingdom, but from being swallowed up with it; the Lord w... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL INSTRUCT THEE,.... Or "cause thee to understand" q. These are by many thought to be the words of the Lord, who gives to a man an understanding of spiritual things; he instructs by his providence, and even by afflictive dispensations of providence; and by his word, which is written for the lea... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE NOT AS THE HORSE, [OR] AS THE MULE, [WHICH] HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING,.... The design of this exhortation is to direct men how to behave under the instructions given; not as brutes, which have no rational faculties, but as men; that they should not show themselves thoughtless, stupid, and unteacha... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY SORROWS [SHALL BE] TO THE WICKED,.... Who will not be instructed and reformed, but are like the horse and mule, without understanding; many outward sorrows or afflictions attend them; loathsome and consuming diseases come upon their bodies by intemperance and debauchery; and they and their fami... [ Continue Reading ]
BE GLAD IN THE LORD,.... The Targum renders it, "in the Word of the Lord"; in Christ the essential Word; in him as the Lord their righteousness, and because of his righteousness imputed to them, by which they become righteous; and in him as their Saviour and Redeemer, and because of the salvation wh... [ Continue Reading ]