Psalms 32:3

SECRET vs. ACKNOWLEDGED SINS

"When I kept silence, my bones wasted away

Through my groanings all the day long.

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me:

My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, (Selah)

And mine iniquity did I not hide:

I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah;

And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."

"When I kept silence" (Psalms 32:3). This speaks of a period when David did not acknowledge his sin, nor confess it. "The time here spoken of is that immediately after David's sin of adultery and murder and which continued till Nathan uttered the words, 'Thou art the man.'"[13]

What is described here is the punishment inwardly inflicted upon God's people by their guilty consciences. Spurgeon described this punishment. "What a killing thing is sin! It is a pestilent disease! a fire in the bosom! While we smother our sin, it rages within and like a gathering wound swells horribly and torments terribly."[14]

Dummelow thought these words might refer, "Either to an actual sickness brought on by sin, or to a spiritual suffering represented by physical terminology."[15] We prefer the latter option of understanding the passage.

"I acknowledged my sin unto thee" (Psalms 32:5). This means that David acknowledge his sin "to God." There's not a hint here that he openly acknowledged it before men.

"And mine iniquity did I not hide" (Psalms 32:5). This is the passage with which this writer has difficulty in the assignment of it to David. Did he not make every possible human effort to "hide" his sin? He brought Uriah home in the hope that Uriah's homecoming would hide it; but it didn't; then he had Uriah murdered to cover it up, but that didn't work either. The whole nation knew of the shameful conduct of their king; and it appears to us that a much more appropriate statement in David's mouth would have been, "Lord, I tried every thing I could think of to hide my sin, but I couldn't hide it," Of course, it is also true that he did not hide it.

Perhaps in this abbreviated account, the reference is to the time when David did freely acknowledge his transgressions and sought and received God's forgiveness, which is so dramatically stated in this verse.

"I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin" (Psalms 32:5). In this entire verse, the confession mentioned is that of confession "to God," not acknowledging transgressions before men. The Romish doctrine of "Auricular Confession," is contrary to everything the Bible teaches regarding the confession of sins.

This verse has been made the basis of some very broad statements, which in our view seem to go beyond what is taught.

"The clear teaching of these verses, therefore, is that by simple confession sin in all its aspects - the outward act (sin), the rebellious disobedience (transgression), and the inward corruption (iniquity) is completely forgiven, and covered, so as to remain no longer an issue between God and man."[16]

Just confess (not to men, but to God). That's all, just 'simple confession' followed by total forgiveness! Without repentance? Without any acknowledgment of sins before men? Without any effort toward restitution, or any kind of justice toward those who were wronged! In this writer's opinion, someone is reading a lot more into this passage than may legitimately be extracted from it.

True, David's life indeed exhibited valid evidence of sincere repentance, and acknowledgment of his sins before all men, as well as "unto God"; and he even took Bathsheba into his harem; but the statement from McCaw is not based on the conduct of David, but upon what is said in this text.

It is precisely this verse that entered into Barnes' comment that:

"Whether this Psalm refers to David's experience in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah or to some other occasion of his life when he was troubled at the remembrance of sin, it is impossible now to determine."[17]

"I will confess my transgressions" (Psalms 32:5). The importance of acknowledging sins, however, cannot be overstated; as DeHoff wrote, "In a practical sense, the unpardonable sin is the unconfessed sin."[18]