Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalm 32:1
Psalm 32 is a joyful song of relief – the rejoicing of a sinner who has experienced the forgiving and redeeming grace of God! David begins this psalm with a double blessing – blessed is “the one whose transgression is forgiven” and blessed is “the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity” (vv. 1-2). The word translated “blessed” here means happy, but it is not the surface-level happiness people often think of. It is the deep joy of knowing that sin has been wiped away and the burden of guilt lifted.
David speaks here from experience. When he tried to conceal his sin, his “bones wasted away through…groaning all day long” (v. 3). He gives the illustration of God’s hand pressing on him as an image of conviction that led from exhaustion and despair (v. 4) to finally coming out of hiding and confessing, immediately finding forgiveness when he “acknowledged his sin” (v. 5). This psalm teaches us a crucial lesson about joy and blessing: it doesn’t come from us trying to cover our sin but by God covering it.
When we humble ourselves and confess, we are not met with condemnation but with mercy. This is why David calls us to respond by offering prayer to God in a time when He may be found (v. 6). Sin hardens our hearts – especially that which we try to hide or ignore – making confession more difficult. Instead of resisting and trying to hide, we should run to God who is our hiding place and protector in trouble (v. 7). Rather than being like a stubborn mule that resists correction (v. 9), we should trust in the Lord, for “steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord” (v. 10).
The psalm ends with a call to celebration and reminds us again that the forgiven heart is a joyful heart.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 32
Psalm 32 finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Paul quotes Psalm 32 in Romans 4:7-8 to show that justification comes by faith in Him and not by our works.
The blessing of forgiveness is only possible because of Him. He bore our iniquities and covered our sin with His own righteousness. Jesus endured the penalty for our transgressions on the cross so that we can receive the blessing of forgiveness. And when we confess our sins to Him, we do so in confidence that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Reflection
Have you ever tried to ignore or hide your guilt or, like David, live carrying unconfessed sin? That’s an easy question to answer for every one of us: yes – too often. God’s invitation for us here is clear: “Let everyone who is godly offer prayer…at a time when [He] may be found” (v. 6).
Don’t wait.
Come to the Lord in confession and receive the joy of His forgiveness. Meditate on the double blessing of vv. 1-2 and know that, if you are in Christ, your transgressions are forgiven, your sin is governed, and God does not count your iniquity against you.
That’s good news and reason for rejoicing!
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Won’t you take the challenge?
Just Keith Harris 