Psalm 32: A Prayer of Confession

I acknowledge 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. —Psalm 32:5

David composed Psalms 32 and 51 following his sin with Bath-sheba.

As with many of the psalms David wrote, Psalm 32 contains personal facts as well as guidance for those who are experiencing similar problems.

Verses 1–5 review with the ordeal David was going through following the realization of his grievous sins against Bath-sheba, Uriah, Joab, and God.

Verses 6–11 provide counsel for those who wish to confess their own sins.

“Confession (1 John 1:9) is of value only when accompanied by repentance. Some Christians confuse the two processes and claim forgiveness on the ground of acknowledgment of guilt alone. But God is interested in the practical aspects of the case. Besides sorrow for sin, repentance includes the expulsion of sin from the life. . . . “Many Christians seem to be more concerned with obtaining forgiveness for their sins than with ridding the soul of all known sin. . . . “ ‘The righteousness of Christ will not cover one cherished sin.’. . . Before this precious gift can be imputed, the old, tattered garments of inherited and cultivated wrongdoing must be laid aside. This was the experience of David. It was on this basis that he obtained forgiveness for his great sin. His repentance was genuine. He loathed the sin of which he had been guilty.” For a whole year after sinning against Uriah and Bathsheba, David’s conscience troubled him (Psalm 32:3, 4). Only when he acknowledged and confessed his sin (v. 5) was he relieved of guilt. God stands ever ready to forgive the sins of those who are sincere in seeking pardon (vv. 6, 7).

Concern for the consequences of one’s actions is not enough to secure His forgiveness. Those who would follow the Lord in all things must pray and read the Bible daily.

Only thus may we intelligently know what is required of us in every situation (v. 8). Animals must sometimes be forced onto the right path, but we have been given the intelligence to choose our own paths (v. 9). Those who have been forgiven will not be able to keep silent (vv. 7, 10, 11). “I’ve wandered far away from God, / Now I’m coming home.”