Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 32
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 32
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 32
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile." — Psalms 32:1-2 (ASV)
Sin is the cause of our misery; but the true believer's transgressions of the divine law are all forgiven, being covered with the atonement. Christ bore his sins; therefore, they are not imputed to him. Because the righteousness of Christ is reckoned to us and we are made the righteousness of God in him, our iniquity is not imputed. This is because God laid upon him the iniquity of us all and made him a sin-offering for us.
Not to impute sin is God's act, for he is the Judge. It is God who justifies. Notice the character of the one whose sins are pardoned: he is sincere and seeks sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He does not profess to repent with an intention to indulge in sin, because the Lord is ready to forgive. He will not abuse the doctrine of free grace. And to the man whose iniquity is forgiven, all manner of blessings are promised.
"When I kept silence, my bones wasted away Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed [as] with the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah For this let every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him. Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah" — Psalms 32:3-7 (ASV)
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 who would succeed 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 found for the troubled mind, then it is that God applies the healing balm by his Spirit.
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, [Else] they will not come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he that trusteth in Jehovah, lovingkindness shall compass him about. Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous; And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. " — Psalms 32:8-11 (ASV)
God teaches by His word and guides with the secret intimations of His will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is by far the most pleasant and comfortable. Let us rejoice, O Lord Jesus, in You and in Your salvation; then we will truly rejoice.
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