By David; a well-written song.
David wrote this song, possibly after the divine discipline that he received for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband to cover up his sin.
32:1 How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned!
Jehovah pardons those who sin, because the Lord Jesus Christ took them upon Himself.
32:2 How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the Lord does not punish, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When a believer sins, then it is already forgiven. However, the sin keeps the believer out of fellowship with God. The believer becomes a dirty vessel which God will not use. Confession of sin cleanses the believer so that he can be utilized as an ambassador of God. God does not send dirty ambassadors into the world to do His work.
32:3 When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long.
Unconfessed sins causes the body to begin to waste away. After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, God gave him one year to confess his sin. When David refused to do so on his own, then his body began to waste away. To save David’s physical body and mental mind, Jehovah sent Nathan the prophet to accuse David of his sin. Confession of sin is good for the physical human body. The Bible teaches that one should confess their sins directly to the Lord Jesus Christ and not to priests or other men.
32:4 For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah)
Jehovah tormented David’s soul day and night with the intense heat of the summer.
32:5 Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)
David finally confessed his sin. Jehovah forgave David of his sin. David asked the congregation to meditate and think deeply upon this thought.
32:6 For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them.
David reminded the congregation that they should pray to Jehovah whenever there is a window of opportunity. If they do so, then the storms of the satanic world system will not engulf them.
32:7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. (Selah)
Jehovah was David’s hiding place. Jehovah protected David from his troubles. Jehovah surrounded David with shouts of joy from those who celebrated the salvation of Jehovah.
32:8 I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.
David took on the role of teacher and taught his people on how they should live in the satanic world system.
32:9 Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.
David taught his people that it was better to submit to Jehovah rather than to resist him stubbornly like a dumb donkey with a bit in his mouth.
32:10 An evil person suffers much pain, but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.
Those who do not believe in Jehovah are evil. On the outside, it looks as though their wealth, fame, and power make them happy. However, they actually suffer much internal pain. They were created in the image of God to become Christ-like, but they rebelled against this type of teaching and become miserable. They will eventually get bored with wealth, fame, and power. They will decay spiritually and become miserable.
The Song of Solomon gives more insight on this process of spiritual decay. Solomon’s wisdom finally led him to the point that everything in the satanic world system is futile, or emptiness. The only thing that matters is to know and apply the mind of Christ. Those who study and apply Bible doctrine will be happy in the toughest situations. Those who do not study and apply Bible doctrine will become sad, angry, and depressed even when they are wealthy, famous, and powerful.
32:11 Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly!
Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!
David commanded the believers to rejoice in the Lord and be happy. There is no room on this earth for sad Christians. Sad Christians feel this way emotionally, because they are out of the will of God. They do not need a psychologist. They need to study and apply the Bible at the deepest level. Only those following the will of God will experience happiness in the satanic world system.