Forgiven Sin and the Joy of Trust in the Lord

32:1 How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned! 32:2 How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the Lord does not punish, in whose spirit there is no deceit. 32:3 When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long. 32:4 For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah) 32:5 Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins. (Selah) 32:6 For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them. 32:7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. (Selah) 32:8 I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye. 32:9 Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit. 32:10 An evil person suffers much pain, but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him. 32:11 Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly! Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright! Psalm 33

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 32 teaches that the person whose sin is forgiven is truly blessed. When David hid his sin, he suffered deep distress. When he confessed, the Lord forgave him. The psalm then warns the faithful to pray at the right time, trust the Lord as their shelter, and obey his instruction with a willing heart.

This psalm begins with blessing. It says the one whose rebellion is forgiven and whose sin is covered is truly happy. The blessed person is not sinless, but honest before God.

The psalmist then tells his own story. While he refused to confess, he felt pain and misery. God’s hand was heavy on him. But when he stopped hiding his sin and confessed it to the Lord, the Lord forgave him.

From that experience, the psalm calls God’s people to pray while the Lord may be found and while mercy is available. The picture of rising floodwaters warns that trouble and judgment are not things to face without God’s help. The Lord is a hiding place for the one who trusts him.

The psalm then turns to instruction. The Lord promises to teach and guide. He warns people not to be stubborn like a mule that must be forced to obey. God’s faithful care surrounds the one who trusts him, while the wicked suffer much pain. So the psalm ends by calling the godly and upright to rejoice in the Lord.

• Forgiven sin, not outward success, is the source of true blessedness.
• Hiding sin brings misery; confession to the Lord brings pardon.
• God’s people should pray while the Lord may be found.
• The Lord is a refuge for those who trust him.
• God also teaches and corrects his people; he does not only forgive them.
• Believers should not be stubborn, but willing to obey.
• Joy in worship comes from God’s forgiveness and steadfast love.

• Warning: do not hide or excuse your sin.
• Warning: do not be stubborn like a mule.
• Promise: the Lord forgives the repentant.
• Promise: the Lord is a hiding place for those who trust him.
• Command: confess your sin to the Lord.
• Command: pray while there is opportunity.
• Command: rejoice in the Lord and be glad.
• Command: be teachable and submit to God’s instruction.

In the life of Israel, this psalm shows that sin is a real breach with the Lord and that mercy is found through honest confession and forgiveness. In the larger Bible, it fits the pattern that blessing comes from God’s gracious act of not counting sin against the one who trusts him. The psalm is not a direct prophecy of Christ, but it supports the broader biblical message that forgiveness, right standing, and joy come from the Lord’s grace.

Do not carry hidden sin. Bring it honestly before the Lord. Trust him to forgive, and do not delay repentance. Then live as one who has been forgiven: be teachable, obey God’s word, and rejoice in him with a thankful heart.

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