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._ For this ... a time ... be found - while the day of grace lasts (Deuteronomy 4:29; Isaiah 55:6). "For this" - because in my case forgiveness immediately followed confession. My experience encourages all to confess heartily their sin, as the sure means of finding in God a hiding-place (Psalms 32:7) from trouble. SURELY. The Hebrew х_ RAQ_ (H7535)] means 'only' (Isaiah 28:19); this and nothing else

6._Therefore shall every one that is meek pray unto thee. _Here the Psalmist expressly states that whatever he has hitherto set forth in his own person belongs in common to all the children of God. And this is to be carefully observed, because, from our native unbelief, the greater part of us are slow and reluctant to appropriate the grace of God. We may also learn from this, that David obtained forgiveness, not by the mere act of confession, as some speak, but by faith and prayer. Here he directs believers to the same means of obtaining it, bidding them betake themselves to prayer, which is the true sacrifice of faith. Farther, we are taught, that in David God gave an example of his mercy, which may not only extend to us all, but may also show us how reconciliation is to be sought. The words, _every one, _serve for the confirmation of every godly person; but the Psalmist at the same tim...

3-7 It is very difficult to bring sinful man humbly to accept free mercy, with a full confession of his sins and self-condemnation. But the true and only way to peace of conscience, is, to confess our sins, that they may be forgiven; to declare them that we may be justified. Although repentance and confession do not merit the pardon of transgression, they are needful to the real enjoyment of forgiving mercy. And what tongue can tell the happiness of that hour, when the soul, oppressed by sin, is enabled freely to pour forth its sorrows before God, and to take hold of his covenanted mercy in Christ Jesus! Those that would speed in prayer, must seek the Lord, when, by his providence, he calls them to seek him, and, by his Spirit, stirs them up to seek him. In a time of finding, when the heart is softened with grief, and burdened with guilt; when all human refuge fails; when no rest can be...

Verse Psalms 32:6. _FOR THIS SHALL EVERY ONE THAT IS GODLY_] Because thou art merciful; because thou hast shown mercy to all who have truly turned to thee, and believed in thee; every one who fears thee, and hears of this, _shall pray unto thee_ in an acceptable time, _when thou mayest be found_; in the time of finding. When the heart is softened and the conscience alarmed, that is a time of finding. God is ever ready; men are not so. Who can pray with a hard heart and a dark mind? While you feel relentings, pray. _SURELY IN THE FLOODS_] In violent trials, afflictions, and temptations; when the rains descend, the winds blow, and the floods beat against that godly man who prays and trusts in God; "they shall not come nigh him," so as to weaken his confidence or destroy his soul. His _house_ is founded on a _rock_....

FOR THIS - With reference to this state of mind, or to this happy result; or, encouraged by my example and my success. The idea seems to be that others would find, and might find, encouragement from what had occurred to him. In other words, his case had furnished an illustration of the way in which sinners are pardoned, and a proof of the mercy of God, which would be instructive and encouraging to others in similar circumstances. The conversion of one sinner, or the fact that one sinner obtains pardon, becomes thus an encouragement to all others, for (a) pardon is always to be obtained in the same manner essentially - by humble and penitent confession of sin, and by casting ourselves entirely on the offered mercy of God; and (b) the fact that one sinner has been pardoned, is full proof that others may obtain forgiveness also, for God is unchangeably the same. All those, the

EXPOSITION THIS psalm has been selected by the Church for one of the "seven penitential psalms." It forms a part of the service of the synagogue on the great Day of Atonement. Yet it is almost as much jubilant as penitent. It opens with two beatitudes. The writer, while very sensible of his sin (Psalms 32:3), is still more sensible of the fact that his sin is pardoned (Psalms 32:1, Psalms 32:2, Psalms 32:7, Psalms 32:10). While his first words breathe content and gratitude, his last are a shout of rejoicing ...

FOR THIS SHALL EVERYONE THAT IS GODLY PRAY UNTO THEE,.... Meaning either that the success he had met with, in acknowledging his sin, would encourage others also to take a like step, and make their supplications to the Lord also; or that every godly person should pray to God for the same blessing of pardoning grace likewise. Pardon of sin is to be prayed for; not only Moses, David, Daniel, and other Old Testament saints, prayed for it; but Christ has directed his disciples and followers, under the Gospel dispensation, to do the same, Luke 11:4; and which must be understood of praying for the manifestation of it to their consciences; for God has by one eternal act forgiven all trespasses at once, for Christ's sake; nor can any new act of pardon arise in the mind of God, or a fresh one pass in the court of heaven, nor the blood of Christ be shed again for the remission of it. Moreover, godl...

«A Psalm of David, Maschil,» that is to say, an instructive Psalm. I suppose that David wrote it after he had been forgiven and restored to divine favour. I think we may read it as a part of our own experience either of conversion or when restored after backsliding. Psalms 32:1. _Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile._ Twice he says «blessed.» He had felt the weight of sin; he had been sore troubled, and now that Nathan is sent to him with the word of pardon, «The Lord hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die,» he counts himself doubly blessed,-blessed not the man who has never sinned, blessed is he who having sinned is forgiven, not the man who has no sin, but whose sin is covered. Wonderful word! Both in English and Hebrew it sounds very

Psalms 32 Fullest Blessing _ 1. The blessedness of righteousness imputed (Psalms 32:1)_ 2. The blessedness of hiding-place (Psalms 32:6) 3. The blessedness of guidance and preservation (Psalms 32:8) Psalms 32:1. This is the first of the 13 Maschil Psalms, the Psalms of special instruction. They tell us of the understanding which the godly in Israel will have in spiritual things (Daniel 12:10). All these Maschil Psalms have reference to the last

XXXII. PARDON OF SIN. Psalms 32:1 f. The joy of Divine pardon. Psalms 32:3. Sin remitted on confession. Psalms 32:6 f. The security of the godly. Read, in time of stress and omit surely. Psalms 32:8_._ Their guidance by God. The general sense is Do not wait till affliction compels recourse to God. Psalms 32:9. Read, Be not like horse and mule which have no understanding, which must be brought to thee by bit and bridle. The rest of the verse is probably a gloss....