Psalms 32:1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
No man knows the blessedness of pardoned sin but the man who has felt the weight of guilt upon his conscience. If you have ever been burdened and crushed under a load of sin, it will be a joy worth more than ten thousand worlds for you to get the burden lifted from your shoulders: «Blessed» blessed beyond description «is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.»
Psalms 32:2. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile
He has no need to dissemble now, for his sin is forgiven. David had tried to tamper with his conscience after his great sin. He invented all sorts of excuses and schemes, to try to hide his guilt, but when, at last, he was fully convinced of the awful sinfulness of his sin, and when God had put it away for ever, then, when the guilt was gone, the guile went, too.
Psalms 32:3-4. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
As if he was parched and scorched with inward grief. The agony of his soul kept him from sleeping, prevented him from taking his necessary food, and made him seem like a prematurely old man.
Psalms 32:5. 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.
O blessed termination of a terrible condition of heart! Confession pulled up the flood-gates of his soul, and God caused the black stream to flow away and disappear. Friend, are you trying to conceal any sin, or to excuse yourself in any wrong course? Then, your soul will fret and worry more and more. But make a clean breast of it before God, in the humblest and most honest language you can use, and then you shall receive the Lord's full and free forgiveness.
Psalms 32:6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
A man, who can pray, shall see even the ocean driven back, as Moses did. If you get nigh to God, and keep nigh to him, the floods of great waters shall never get nigh to you.
Psalms 32:7. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
The world is full of music to the man to whom God has said, «I forgive thee.» Do not rest, dear friend, till you really know that you are forgiven; for if you do, you will rest short of all true happiness. But if you have sought God's mercy, and had your sin forgiven, you are already at the gates of heaven.
Psalms 32:8. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
When God forgives, he also sanctifies. When he has brought back the sheep that wandered off into the wrong road, he afterwards leads it in the right track. Notice how the Lord says, «I will guide thee with mine eye.» A look from the Lord ought to be enough to guide us; we should not need a blow, nor even a word, but be ready to be directed by the very gentlest monition of God's gracious Spirit.
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.
Do not be difficult to manage. Be not hard-mouthed. Be ready to be guided by the eye of God. Be not like stubborn beasts, that must be held in with bit and bridle, and that often need the whip, too.
Psalms 32:10. Many sorrows, shall be to the wicked:
Wicked man, that is the portion that is to come to you; and it will surely come to you if you continue in your present evil course. This is the title deed of your future inheritance; do you like the prospect of such a possession as that? «Many sorrows shall be to the wicked:»
Psalms 32:10-11. 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, all ye that are upright in heart.
Let your joy be demonstrative. Do not be ashamed to let others see how happy you are. The Lord hath done great things for you - therefore, «be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.» Be so jubilant that others shall be compelled to glorify God with you, and to ask, «May not we also share this great blessing with you?»
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 32, 130.