Psalms 32:1-8

Psalms 32:1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

That is a wonderful word, almost the same in Hebrew as in English, covered, hidden, concealed, put away, removed, dismissed for ever.

Psalms 32:2. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

For, when sin is gone, men become honest before God. The fear of punishment makes them endeavor to evade the truth concerning sin; but, when they see sin pardoned, then are they honest before the Lord.

Psalms 32:3. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

I have heard that certain diseases, when they are suppressed, are all the more terrible and deadly; and, certainly, suppressed sin, or suppressed sorrow for sin, which has no vent by way of confession before God, is a dreadful thing. It seems to eat into the very bones: «My bones waxed old,» like a strong acid eating into the very pillars of our manhood.

Psalms 32:4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me:

The mere touch of God's finger would be enough to crush us, but when he comes to deal with us in conviction, and lays his heavy hand upon us, it is indeed terrible. We are then like Gideon's fleece when he squeezed all the moisture out of it.

Psalms 32:4. My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged 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.

Being confessed, it was forgiven; being acknowledged, it was blotted out.

Psalms 32:6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found:

If thou, O Lord, dost hear a sinner cry unto thee, then surely thou wilt hear thy saints when they cry unto thee yet more and more! If seekers become finders, then others will become seekers, too.

Psalms 32:6. Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

What a blessed experience that is, to be surrounded with songs, to hear music on the right and music on the left, singing behind me for mercy received, singing before me for hopes yet to be fulfilled, singing above me, the angels welcoming me when my time comes to go home to my Father's house! «Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.» Now the Lord speaks to his servant:

Psalms 32:8. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

«Therefore, keep your eye on me; notice every movement of my eye, and be ready and obedient, at the slightest sign, to do my will.»

Psalms 32:9. 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.

Be not hard in the mouth; be not stubborn, willful, obstinate, rebellious.

Psalms 32:10. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked:

They pursue pleasure as if it belonged to them alone. They talk about «a short life and a merry one.» Poor things, how sadly mistaken they are! «Many sorrows shall be to the wicked.» They have a terrible inheritance, a dreadful entail of suffering.

Psalms 32:10. But he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy,

Be demonstrative about it, make other people hear of it. Do not be ashamed to let your holy joy be known. Be not so very proper and orderly as to mumble out your praises as some do: «Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy,»

Psalms 32:11. All ye that are right in heart.

This exposition consisted of readings from Exodus 25:10; and Psalms 32:1.