It seems like in Psalm 31 David is receiving the consequences of a sin unknown to us. It has caused others around him to shun him and talk maliciously about him. In the psalm, though, David recommits his life to Yahweh and seeks God’s forgiveness and God’s answers to his plight. It’s a great lesson for us as well when we suffer for what we have done.
1 – 5
David’s plea should be familiar to us by now—seeking refuge in God and asking for His salvation, leading, guidance, and redemption. He knows he has blown it and asks for God’s rescue, not so he can go out and sin again but so that God will be glorified. “Save me by Your righteousness” he says in verse 1, “You lead and guide me because of Your name” in verse 3.
Two things to note in verse 5. The beginning of the verse makes up Jesus’ final words on the cross. Jesus Himself had not sinned but was being judged for all of our sin. After He had paid the price He then committed Himself into God’s hands, and died. Secondly, notice David is asking for God to redeem him and calls the Lord “God of truth.” I like that. We don’t ask God to look the other way or violate His character when He saves us. We truthfully face what we have done and then see those things put upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ which means they are lifted off of our shoulders!
6 – 8
David reiterates that he has a relationship with God and has severed his relationship with any other thing that stands before God being first in his life. And he recognizes that it is God’s covenant (“Faithful”) love that allows David to rejoice even in suffering for his sins. We don’t rejoice in the sin but rejoice that God can forgive and wipe away the sin.
I also want to point out that when we mess up God doesn’t sit up on heaven and smirk saying “now they’re going to pay!” God feels the consequences of our mistakes more than we do and desires that we not fall prey to the enemy but are redeemed, forgiven, and set back in a right place.
9 – 13
Here is where David admits that it is his own actions that have led him here. Notice he says “angry sorrow” in verse 9. I like that. We ought to have an angry sorrow against sin in our life.
2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.”
Godly grief says “Lord I’ve blown it, forgive, cleanse, and teach me Your character.” Worldly grief is just sorry to have gotten caught.
David is feeling the consequences of his actions. People are actually running from him and talking about him.
Galatians 6:7-9 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” NKJV
14 – 18
David declares that no matter what happens to him, he is going to trust in God. I absolutely love verse 15: “The course of my life is in Your power.” Good or bad, suffering or rejoicing—it doesn’t matter because God is in control and He is in charge. Oh but would we always keep that foremost in our minds!
19 – 22
So now David is rejoicing that in God there is forgiveness, cleansing, and much goodness. You see, it doesn’t matter how bad you have been. It only matters whether you love God and trust in Him.
Notice verses 21 and 22. Sometimes our lives feel like a city under siege and alarm bells are going off all around is. We’ve blown it and know we deserve what’s coming. We also think that God must turn His head in shame and want nothing to do with us but will leave us to rot in our sin. But He does see and He does hear—especially the cry of a repentant heart.
23 – 24
So in the final verses David encourages everyone to do as he has done: love God. For you will find protection so put your hope in Him and be strong. You will blow it, but God is faithful.
Psalm 32
Psalm 32 is a song of relief. David is holding something deep inside and it is eating him alive. But then he realizes there is help so near to him, and all he needs to do is let go and he will find great relief. This ought to be a great encouragement to us to keep short accounts with God!
1 – 2
After he has confessed everything to God, David expresses this wonderful joy at knowing that those things that he did outside of Yahweh’s character have been “covered” and “forgiven.” The two words mean “to hide out of sight” and “to lift away.” It is such an awesome feeling when God lifts off the burden of our sins and hides them away forever. David uses the word “transgression” which is open rebellion—you’ve sinned and you planned it! He also uses the word “sin” which means those things that we do without even realizing it but are still not like God’s character.
The idea of “not charging” could have its modern day counterpart in the computer. The idea is that there are computer-like records of all of our sins in heaven, but that through God’s forgiveness he hits the “delete” button and those sins are forever erased from His book.
The idea of “no deceit” means that if you don’t hold back from God your sins, He won’t hold back His forgiveness. So how does this forgiveness happen? One word: repentance.
3 – 5
David knew there was something wrong but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Sometimes with us we have this nagging feeling but don’t know what it is. Perhaps it is because God’s Spirit is working in you to make you aware of sin you have hidden from him and perhaps even yourself. David describes the feeling like the weakness on a superhot summer day. Holding on to sin will do that to you—it will rot away at your soul.
Then David acknowledged his sin to God—confessed, which is like saying the same thing as God—agreeing with God that this was in fact sin. We must take God’s Word for it that some things are not the way He is, and not the way things run in His universe. Anything that is not like how God would think, act, or speak is “sin” which means “to miss the mark.”
Notice what happened—not only were David’s sins covered and forgiven, but the “guilt” was taken away. It is often this latent and subconscious guilt that causes us so much harm.
6 – 7
David now realizes how important constant confession is to health. God’s forgiveness is like a high place when the flood of guilt and shame comes flowing in; He is like a protective place from the taunts and accusations of the enemy. I love the end of verse 7 “You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.” This really echoes the beginning of the song—that joy that David felt is multiplied by those around him that have also received God’s cleansing and forgiveness. See, as Christians we are not better people that everyone else. We are just as weak and broken. The difference is that we have heard God calling our name to come and repent and believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. So David wants everyone to come to that place as well.
8 – 9
David here shows a real concern for others in his pre-confession state. In our default human condition we will not automatically admit that we have failed and seek forgiveness from God. It is very humbling and human pride is one of our worst failings. David says “don’t be skittish like a horse that has to be forced” instead come freely and openly to God.
10 – 11
David realizes that to hold on to your sin means to hold onto pain. But for those who come and confess and repent there is “faithful love” surrounding him—why? Because it is God who provides the forgiveness through His covenant of love through Jesus Christ. It isn’t your efforts that get you forgiveness and cleansing, it is God’s efforts for you because of His great love.
So David’s final exhortation is to get that “uprightness” in heart by asking God to examine him, and bring to his mind the things in him that are not like God—in His timing—not so He can make him feel bad but so that He can make him feel wonderful about His great love!
