EXPOSITION OF PSALM 32 (1)
Psalm 32:1-2

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One should read Psalm 51 before reading this present psalm. There the psalmist expresses his repentance for sin committed (described in 2 Samuel ch.11). Here he expresses his thanksgiving for sin forgiven.

The superscription identifies this psalm as a "Maschil", or "A Contemplation", of which there are twelve others (Psalms 42, 44, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55, 74, 78, 88, 89, 142). The root of this Hebrew word denotes "insight" or "wisdom". This probably indicates that such psalms were especially noted for their instruction. Note well that in David's afore-cited prayer for forgiveness (Psalm 51) he promised, "Then I will teach transgressors Your ways" (v.13); in this thanksgiving for forgiveness (Psalm 32) he keeps His promise.

The superscription also identifies this as "A Psalm of David". Paul the apostle confirms this fact in Romans 4:6-8. He there quotes verses 1-2a here after this introduction: "David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works." It is interesting to note that the gracious imputation of righteousness (Romans 3:21-4:5) and the merciful non-imputation of sin walk hand-in-hand.

In this regard it would be good to note that Martin Luther, the German Reformer, called Psalms 32, 51, 130, and 143 Psalmi Paulini, "Psalms of Paul", for this reason: "For they all teach that the forgiveness of our sins comes, without the law and without works, to the man who believes, and therefore I call them Pauline Psalms .... no man may boast of his own righteousness."

This psalm may be divided into five divisions: 1. the blessed man's identification (vv.1f); 2. the blessed man's state prior to his blessedness (vv.3-5); 3. the blessed man's response to his blessing (vv.6f); 4. the blessed man's instruction from his blesser (vv.8f); 5. the blessed man's instruction to others (vv.10f).

I. The blessed man's identification (vv.1f). David describes the "blessed" or happy man in Psalm 1 (see also Matthew 5:3-12). Here he identifies how the blessed man came to be a blessed man.

32:1 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, ..." Transgression is "rebellion" against God's authority and law. To have transgression forgiven is to have it "taken off and carried away". This is done through Christ the Scapegoat (as in Leviticus ch.16): The sins of God's elect were taken from them and given to Him; and He carried them away to a place where they are forever forgotten, thereby rendering the rebel forever forgiven.

"... Whose sin is covered." Sin is "any lack of conformity unto the law of God, either in act, disposition, or state". To have sin covered is to have it "completely hidden from sight" – even from God's. Christ has done for this all who come to Him in faith and repentance: "He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Hebrews 9:26); "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25).

32:2 "Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, ..." Iniquity is "perversity, depravity". To impute iniquity is to "charge it to one's account". All people are iniquitous, for perversity and depravity permeates the entire human race (Romans 3:10-18). But God will not impute iniquity to His people, or charge them with the guilt of their perversity and depravity, because all their iniquity was imputed to Christ, their penal substitute, and He in His vicarious death for them satisfied the demands of God's law against all their iniquities (Isaiah 53:5f, 11). What Jehovah imputes to His people is the everlasting righteousness of Christ to whom their iniquities were imputed (Romans 3:21-4:9). And if Jehovah will not charge His people with iniquity, surely no one else can (as in Romans 8:1f, 31-39).

"... And in whose spirit there is no deceit." Spirit here is "man's immaterial part, his mind". Guile is "deceit". Every one of us by nature is, like Elymas the sorcerer, "full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness" (Acts 13:10). But those who have received through Christ the blessings already set forth (vv.1-2a) are also given a new sinless nature in which there is no guile or deceit (2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:9).

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