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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 32:1-6

This psalm is entitled Maschil, which some take to be only the name of the tune to which it was set and was to be sung. But others think it is significant; our margin reads it, A psalm of David giving instruction, and there is nothing in which we have more need of instruction than in the nature of true blessedness, wherein it consists and the way that leads to it?what we must do that we may be happy. There are several things in which these verses instruct us. In general, we are here taught... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence ,.... Was unthoughtful of sin, unconcerned about it, and made no acknowledgment and confession of it to God, being quite senseless and stupid; the Targum adds, "from the words of the law"; which seems to point at sin as the cause of what follows; my bones waxed old; through my roaring all the day long ; not under a sense of sin, but under some severe affliction, and through impatience in it; not considering that sin lay at the bottom, and was the occasion of it; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 32:4

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me ,.... Meaning the afflicting hand of God, which is not joyous, but grievous, and heavy to be borne; especially without his gracious presence, and the discoveries of his love: this continued night and day, without any intermission; and may design some violent distemper; perhaps a fever; since it follows, my moisture is turned into the drought of summer . That is, the radical moisture in him was almost dried up, as brooks in the summer season;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence - Before I humbled myself, and confessed my sin, my soul was under the deepest horror. "I roared all the day long;" and felt the hand of God heavy upon my soul. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:3

Verse 3 3.When I kept silence, my bones wasted away. Here David confirms, by his own experience, the doctrine which he had laid down; namely, that when humbled under the hand of God, he felt that nothing was so miserable as to be deprived of his favor: by which he intimates, that this truth cannot be rightly understood until God has tried us with a feeling of his anger. Nor does he speak of a mere ordinary trial, but declares that he was entirely subdued with the extremest rigour. And... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 32:4

Verse 4 4.For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me. In this verse he explains more fully whence such heavy grief arose; namely, because he felt the hand of God to be sore against him. The greatest of all afflictions is to be so heavily pressed with the hand of God, that the sinner feels he has to do with a Judge whose indignation and severity involve in them many deaths, besides eternal death. David, accordingly, complains that his moisture was dried up, not merely from simply meditating on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1-5

From great misery to greater blessedness. There can be little doubt that David composed this psalm after Nathan came to him. Psalms 51:1-19 . was the confession of his great sin, and the prayer for forgiveness. This is the record of the confession made and the forgiveness obtained, and the blessedness of his position as a son restored to his Father's house. I. THE GREATEST MISERY . 1 . The knowledge that we have sinned. That we have been guilty of one great sin leading on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1-11

The last word of the title, "Maschil," is thought to mean that the psalm was intended for instruction, warning, or admonition; the word maschil , or rather maskil , being formed from askil ," to instruct"—the opening word of the eighth verso—used also in Psalms 2:10 ; Psalms 53:2 , etc. There are thirteen psalms thus inscribed, all more or less of a didactic character. Rhythmically, the psalm seems to be composed of six strophes, each of two verses; but in the third... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:1-11

Divine forgiveness. This psalm is one of those historically established as David's. £ It has long been a favourite with the greatest saints, who are the very ones that own themselves the greatest sinners. Luther referred to it as one of his special psalms. So Dr. Chalmers, who, it is said, could scarcely read its first three verses without tears filling his eyes. The compression necessary to keep this work within moderate limits renders it impossible to do more than point out how it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 32:3

When I kept silence ; i.e. so long as I did not acknowledge my sin—while I remained silent about it, quite aware that I hod sinned grievously, suffering in conscience, but not confessing it even to myself. The time spoken of is that which immediately followed the commission of the adultery, and which continued until Nathan uttered the words, "Thou art the man!" ( 2 Samuel 12:7 ). My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long ; i.e. I suffered grievous pain, both bodily and... read more

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