Psalm 32--Blessed Are the Forgiven

Psalm 32
English Standard Version

Blessed Are the Forgiven
A Maskil of David.
32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
    they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
    or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

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This psalm in particular resonates with me because it is truly a blessing to have not just transgressions or trespasses (where we accidently crossed over a line we didn't know was there) sins forgiven, but also our iniquities--that is our high-handed rebellious sins that we intentionally committed.  Even more blessed than being forgiven though is that the LORD chooses not to hold our sins against us.  WOW!  The psalmist says that in such a man there should be no deceit--he should be a person who loves the LORD and loves His Law.

David tells of how he had "dry" times in his spiritual life and he calls on those who are righteous to pray for those in that kind of place and for those in that place to ask for prayer.  In all this, the LORD is our "hiding place," our deliverance, our refuge and our strength.

Then, speaking through David, the LORD says that we should not need to be forced to go in the direction we don't want to go like a horse or mule that must be controlled by bit and bridle.  We should desire to go in the same direction as the LORD wants us to go.  He should not have to fight us for us to be obedient to Him.

The wicked do not have any joy because they have nothing to look forward to--they live only for the present and know they are living under constant condemnation, but the righteous can find joy in all situations knowing that the LORD is for them and with them, so we can choose to be happy despite our circumstances.