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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] at sacred-texts.com


Psalms Chapter 32

Psalms 32:1

psa 32:1

Maschil--literally, "giving instruction." The Psalmist describes the blessings of His forgiveness, succeeding the pains of conviction, and deduces from his own experience instruction and exhortation to others. (Psa 32:1-11)

(Compare Rom 4:6).

forgiven--literally, "taken away," opposed to retain (Joh 20:23).

covered--so that God no longer regards the sin (Psa 85:3).

Psalms 32:2

psa 32:2

imputeth--charge to him, and treat him accordingly.

no guile--or, deceit, no false estimate of himself, nor insincerity before God (compare Rom 8:1).

Psalms 32:3

psa 32:3

A vivid description of felt, but unacknowledged, sin.

When--literally, "for," as in Psa 32:4.

Psalms 32:4

psa 32:4

thy hand--of God, or power in distressing him (Psa 38:2).

moisture--vital juices of the body, the parching heat of which expresses the anguish of the soul. On the other figures, compare Psa 6:2, Psa 6:7; Psa 31:9-11. If composed on the occasion of the fifty-first Psalm, this distress may have been protracted for several months.

Psalms 32:5

psa 32:5

A prompt fulfilment of the purposed confession is followed by a prompt forgiveness.

Psalms 32:6

psa 32:6

For this--that is, my happy experience.

godly--pious in the sense of Psa 4:3.

a time-- (Isa 55:6); when God's Spirit inclines us to seek pardon, He is ready to forgive.

floods, &c.--denotes great danger (Psa 18:17; Psa 66:12).

Psalms 32:7

psa 32:7

His experience illustrates the statement of Psa 32:6.

Psalms 32:8

psa 32:8

Whether, as most likely, the language of David (compare Psa 51:13), or that of God, this is a promise of divine guidance.

I will . . . mine eye--or, My eye shall be on thee, watching and directing thy way.

Psalms 32:9

psa 32:9

The latter clause, more literally, "in that they come not near thee"; that is, because they will not come, &c., unless forced by bit and bridle.

Psalms 32:10

psa 32:10

The sorrows of the impenitent contrasted with the peace and safety secured by God's mercy.

Psalms 32:11

psa 32:11

The righteous and upright, or those conforming to the divine teaching for securing the divine blessing, may well rejoice with shouting.


Next: Psalms Chapter 33