Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 32:6
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
6. An exhortation based upon experience.
For this &c.] Rather, Therefore let every one &c.
in a time when thou mayest be found ] This is the most probable explanation of the Heb., which means literally in a time of finding, and is obscure from its brevity. So “in a time of acceptance” (Psa 69:13). Comp. Deu 4:29 with Jer 29:13; and see Isa 55:6. Let no one delay, for there is also a time of not finding (Pro 1:28). The words may also be explained as in R.V. marg., in the time of finding out sin, when God makes inquisition; cp. Psa 17:3; or, in the time when sin finds them out; cp. Num 32:23: but these explanations are less obvious.
surely &c.] R.V., surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him. In a time of calamity and judgement he will not be overwhelmed, but will be safe like one who stands secure upon a rock out of reach of the raging flood. For the figure cp. Psa 18:16; Isa 28:2; Isa 28:17; Isa 30:28; Nah 1:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For this – With reference to this state of mind, or to this happy result; or, encouraged by my example and my success. The idea seems to be that others would find, and might find, encouragement from what had occurred to him. In other words, his case had furnished an illustration of the way in which sinners are pardoned, and a proof of the mercy of God, which would be instructive and encouraging to others in similar circumstances. The conversion of one sinner, or the fact that one sinner obtains pardon, becomes thus an encouragement to all others, for
(a) pardon is always to be obtained in the same manner essentially – by humble and penitent confession of sin, and by casting ourselves entirely on the offered mercy of God; and
(b) the fact that one sinner has been pardoned, is full proof that others may obtain forgiveness also, for God is unchangeably the same. All those, therefore, who have been pardoned and saved in the world have become examples to the rest, and have furnished full proof that all others may be pardoned and saved if they will come in the same manner. See the notes at 1Ti 1:16.
Everyone that is godly – The original word used here would properly mean those who are pious, or who are already converted. It is the common word used in the Scriptures to denote saints, and is usually so translated. But, as used here, it would seem rather to denote those who are inclined to be pious, or who are seeking how they may become pious; in other words, those who are religiously disposed. The encouragement is to those who feel that they are sinners; who desire some way of relief from the burden of sin; who are convinced that there is no other source of relief but God, and who are disposed to make the same trial which the psalmist did – to find peace by making confession of sin. All such persons, the psalmist says, might see in his case encouragement to come thus to God; all such would find Him willing to pardon.
In a time when thou mayest be found – Margin, as in Hebrew, in a time of finding. That is, they would find that to be a propitious time, or a time of mercy. It does not mean that there were appointed or set times in which God would be gracious; or that there were seasons when he was disposed to give audience to people, and seasons when he could not be approached; but the meaning is, that whenever they came thus – with this penitent feeling, and this language of confession – they would find that the time of mercy. The idea is not that God is anymore disposed to show mercy at one time than another, but that they would find him always ready to show mercy when they came in that manner: that would be the time to obtain his favor; that the time of finding. The real time of mercy, therefore, for a sinner, is the time when he is willing to come as a penitent, and to make confession of sin.
Surely in the floods of great waters – In times of calamity – as when floods of water spread over a land; or in a time of judgment – when such floods sweep everything away. The reference here is, doubtless, to the floods that will come upon the ungodly – upon a wicked world. The illustration is drawn probably from the deluge in the time of Noah. So, when God shall sweep away the wicked in his wrath – when he shall consign them to destruction in the day of judgment – the pardoned sinner will be safe.
They shall not come nigh unto him – He will be secure. He shall not be swept off with others. Safe, as a forgiven man – safe as a child and a friend of God – he shall be protected as Noah was in the great deluge that swept off a guilty world. A pardoned man has nothing to fear, though flood or fire should sweep over the world.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 32:6
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee, in a time when Thou mayest be found.
The duty of prayer
I. the nature of this duty. We may say prayers, even the most beautiful of prayers, such as we have in our liturgy, but all this may be and yet we may never pray. If our religion does not teach us to pray, it is a religion good for nothing. The faithful pastor will urge his people to pray, and, if they will not hearken, he will pray God by afflictions to compel them to pray.
II. the time when we should pray–when Thou mayest be found. For there is a time when God may not be found. Reprobates on death-beds have tried to find God, but could not (Pro 1:24). Oh, do not trifle with the gospel of the grace of God.
III. thy encouragement to pray. For this cause shall, etc. God heard the poor, contrite penitent when he confessed his sin, and freely forgave him all. Therefore, do none of you think, it is all in vain now for you to pray. Once, you think, you might have been heard, but not now. Oh, it is not so. The day of grace is not over, but, if you trifle now, it may be to-morrow. Therefore seek the Lord now, at once. (T. Mortimer, B. D.)
The experimental pardon of sin sought by prayer
I. the thing spoken of–For this.
II. the character–Every one that is godly.
III. prayer–For this shall every one that is godly pray. And then–
IV. prayer at a particular time–In a time when Thou mayest be found. (T. T. West, M. A.)
On seeking God
We want not encouragement of seeking God, nor need doubt of finding Him, if we take these grounds with us:
1. If we seek Him in His own house: for where should a man be found but in his own house? God hath one standing house in the Old Testament, not where His infinite essence, which the Heaven of heavens was not able to contain, but where His name and memorial dwelt: but in the New He hath a number of houses, and being omnipresent, He will be found in them all.
(1) The church-assemblies. Therefore in these houses of prayer seek Him by faithful prayer, and thou shall not miss Him.
(2) Every Christian family is a house of God: whore two or three consent in any one thing in His name, Christ is in the midst of them. The apostle saluteth private Christians with the Church in their houses. Therefore make thy house Gods house, by setting up His worship therein, and Thou shall have Him near thee with all sweet fellowship and fulness of blessedness.
(3) Every Christian soul is a temple of God (2Co 6:16). Then make thy heart His temple, and, if thou wouldst find Him, seek Him there, thou shall find Him nowhere else, or sooner than there.
2. As we must seek Him in His own house, so by His own light and means, and this is twofold.
(1) The Word of God in precepts and promises; this is a lanthorn to our feet, and a light to our paths, by which God may be discerned, whom the darkness of the world cannot comprehend.
(2) Such signs of His presence as He hath made choice of to reveal His grace in. In the Old Testament believers must seek Him in sacrifices and ceremonies, and therein He gave them gracious answers: the ceremonies were all typical, and pointed at Christ and the good things to come in Him. So in the New Testament God hath appointed visible signs annexed to His Word, as the public service of Him in spirit and truth, the offering up of our sacrifices of prayer and praise, and frequenting of the holy Sacraments or Ceremonies; in all which He will be sought. God cannot be seen or found but by His own light, and therefore he that would seek Him, must have the light of understanding (Psa 14:2).
3. We shall find God, if we seek Him, not by the eyes of sense and nature, but of faith and obedience.
4. We shall seek aright, if we seek God in Gods manner, and that is in four things.
(1) If we seek Him in sincerity of spirit (Eph 6:18), praying in the Spirit, as knowing that we are to deal with God who is a Spirit: and in sincerity, because He is a God that loveth truth in the inward parts: this condemns hypocritical seeking, which is but deceitful (Jer 29:13).
(2) In fervency: men are commanded to seek for wisdom as for gold and treasures; how eagerly and instantly do men seek after gold and earthly things! Why, no labour can beat them from their desires: how much more carefully ought they to seek after spiritual graces, and most of all after God Himself!
(3) In season, timely (Psa 63:2).
(4) In His Son: seek Him in Christ the only Mediator; for none can come to the Father but by the Son.
5. We shall seek aright and with comfort, if we seek Him in the right ends, namely, for Himself; not as the Jews who followed Christ for bread; not to gain the world by Him, but to gain Himself and His favour, which is better than life; yea, to obtain this, be content to seek Him with the loss of all, as the disciples and martyrs did. (T. Taylor, D. D.)
Prayer the proof of godliness
I. the universal mark of godliness.
1. In its infancy.
2. In all stages of its growth.
3. True prayer is an infallible mark of godliness.
4. Prayer is natural to the godly man.
5. To such a man, prayer is a very happy and consoling exercise.
6. The prayers of the godly may be presented in a great many forms.
II. A potent motive for praying.
1. Because God heard such a great sinner as David was.
2. Because we all need pardon daily.
3. Every one who is godly will pray unto God, because he has received the pardon of sin.
4. Because troubles come.
5. Because God does hear prayer. Prayer does move the arm that moves the world, though nothing is put out of gear by our praying.
III. THE special occasion when prayer is most useful.
1. The time of this mortal life.
2. Under the Gospel dispensation.
3. The time of the finding out of sin. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 6. For this shall every one that is godly] Because thou art merciful; because thou hast shown mercy to all who have truly turned to thee, and believed in thee; every one who fears thee, and hears of this, shall pray unto thee in an acceptable time, when thou mayest be found; in the time of finding. When the heart is softened and the conscience alarmed, that is a time of finding. God is ever ready; men are not so. Who can pray with a hard heart and a dark mind? While you feel relentings, pray.
Surely in the floods] In violent trials, afflictions, and temptations; when the rains descend, the winds blow, and the floods beat against that godly man who prays and trusts in God; “they shall not come nigh him,” so as to weaken his confidence or destroy his soul. His house is founded on a rock.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For this, i.e. upon the encouragement of my example, and thy great mercy vouchsafed to me, in answer to my humble confession and supplication.
In a time when thou mayest be found, Heb. in the time of finding thee; the pronoun thee being easily and fitly repeated out of the next foregoing clause, i.e. while he may be found, as it is expressed, Isa 55:6, or while he is near, Psa 69:13, in an acceptable and seasonable time, while God continues to offer grace and mercy to sinners, before the decree bring forth, Zep 2:2, and sentence be passed or executed upon them. By which clause he seems to intimate the difference between the godly, who pray and cry earnestly to God for mercy in its season; and the wicked, who will do so when it is too late, and the season is lost. In the floods of great. waters, i.e. in the time of great calamities, which are frequently compared to great waters. They shall not come nigh unto him, to wit, so as to overwhelm or hurt him. Or God will set him in a high and safe place, out of the reach of them, as he provided an ark for Noah when the deluge came; to which peradventure he alludes in this place.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. For thisthat is, my happyexperience.
godlypious in thesense of Ps 4:3.
a time (Isa55:6); when God’s Spirit inclines us to seek pardon, He is readyto forgive.
floods, c.denotesgreat danger (Psa 18:17 Psa 66:12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For this shall everyone that is godly pray unto thee,…. Meaning either that the success he had met with, in acknowledging his sin, would encourage others also to take a like step, and make their supplications to the Lord also; or that every godly person should pray to God for the same blessing of pardoning grace likewise. Pardon of sin is to be prayed for; not only Moses, David, Daniel, and other Old Testament saints, prayed for it; but Christ has directed his disciples and followers, under the Gospel dispensation, to do the same, Lu 11:4; and which must be understood of praying for the manifestation of it to their consciences; for God has by one eternal act forgiven all trespasses at once, for Christ’s sake; nor can any new act of pardon arise in the mind of God, or a fresh one pass in the court of heaven, nor the blood of Christ be shed again for the remission of it. Moreover, godly men will, in this sense, pray for it, as they have daily occasion to do: a godly man is a man that is created after the image of God, is born of him, and is possessed of internal powerful godliness, and has all things pertaining to it; and particularly has a godly sorrow for sin, and the fear of God in his heart, and before his eyes: and such a man is a praying one; having the spirit of grace, he has the spirit of supplication, and prays with the Spirit and with the understanding; and his praying for the pardon of sin shows that he is not without it, but daily commits it, and so needs fresh discoveries of forgiving love: and which he prays for
in a time when thou mayest be found; which is to be understood, not of any particular stated times of prayer, as morning, noon, and night; for the throne of grace is always open, and God is to be found, and grace and mercy with him at all times; and much less does this respect a day of grace for particular persons, which, if improved, and the opportunity taken, they may have pardon; but if neglected till it is over, then there is no pardon for them; for there is no such day of grace: the whole Gospel dispensation is a day of grace; and that will not be over until all the elect of God are gathered in; and until then it is, and will be; now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation; but it designs a time of need, of soul distress, in which, when persons call upon God in truth, and seek him with their whole heart, he is found by them, and they find grace and mercy with him to relieve them in their distress; the Targum is,
“in an acceptable time;”
surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him; that is, unto the godly man; not but that afflictions, which are comparable to great floods of waters, do reach godly persons; but not so as to overwhelm them and destroy them; they are delivered out of them. The phrase seems to denote safety in the greatest calamities; that though even a deluge of vengeance and awful judgments should come upon the world, yet the godly man is safe; his place is the munition of rocks; he is in the hands of Christ, and is enclosed in the arms of everlasting love, from whence he can never be taken by men or devils: the Targum interprets these “waters of many people”; and adds, so as “to do any evil”, or “hurt”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For this mercy, which is provided for every sinner who repents and confesses his sin, let then, every , who longs for , turn in prayer to Jahve , at the time (Psa 21:10; 1Ch 12:22; cf. , Isa 49:8) when He, and His mercy, is to be found (cf. Deu 4:29 with Jer 29:13; Isa 55:6, ). This hortatory wish is followed by a promissory assurance. The fact of being virtually a protasis: quam inundant aquae magnae ( of the time), which separates from , prohibits our regarding as belonging to in this instance, although like , , , and , is also placed per hypallage at the head of the clause (as in Pro 13:10: with pride there is only contention), even when belonging to a part of the clause that follows further on. The restrictive meaning of here, as is frequently the case (Deu 4:6; Jdg 14:16; 1Ki 21:25, cf. Psa 91:8), has passed over to the affirmative: certo quum , etc. Inundation or flooding is an exemplificative description of the divine judgment (cf. Nah 1:8); Psa 32:6 is a brief form of expressing the promise which is expanded in Ps 91. In Psa 32:7, David confirms it from his own experience. The assonance in (Thou wilt preserve me, so that , angustum = angustiae , does not come upon me, Psa 119:143) is not undesigned; and after comes , just like after in Psa 29:9. There is no sufficient ground for setting aside , with Houbigant and others, as a repetition of the half of the word . The infinitive (Job 38:7) might, like , plur. , , plur. , with equal right be inflected as a substantive; and (as in Psa 56:8), which is likewise treated as a substantive, cf. , Dan 12:7, presents, as a genitive, no more difficulty than does in the expression . With songs of deliverance doth Jahve surround him, so that they encompass him on all sides, and on occasion of exulting meets him in whatever direction he turns. The music here again for the third time becomes forte , and that to express the highest feeling of delight.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
6. Therefore shall every one that is meek pray unto thee. Here the Psalmist expressly states that whatever he has hitherto set forth in his own person belongs in common to all the children of God. And this is to be carefully observed, because, from our native unbelief, the greater part of us are slow and reluctant to appropriate the grace of God. We may also learn from this, that David obtained forgiveness, not by the mere act of confession, as some speak, but by faith and prayer. Here he directs believers to the same means of obtaining it, bidding them betake themselves to prayer, which is the true sacrifice of faith. Farther, we are taught, that in David God gave an example of his mercy, which may not only extend to us all, but may also show us how reconciliation is to be sought. The words, every one, serve for the confirmation of every godly person; but the Psalmist at the same time shows, that no one can obtain the hope of salvation but by prostrating himself as a suppliant before God, because all without exception stand in need of his mercy.
The expression, The time of finding, which immediately follows, some think, refers to the ordinary and accustomed hours of prayer; but others more accurately, in my opinion, compare it (664) with that place in Isaiah, (Isa 55:6,) where it is said, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” It is never out of season, indeed, to seek God, for every moment we need his grace, and he is always willing to meet us. But as slothfulness or dullness hinders us from seeking him, David here particularly intimates the critical seasons when believers are stimulated by a sense of their own need to have recourse to God. The Papists have abused this place to warrant their doctrine, that we ought to have advocates in heaven to pray for us; (665) but the attempt to found an argument in support of such a doctrine from this passage is so grossly absurd that it is unworthy of refutation. We may see from it, however, either how wickedly they have corrupted the whole Scripture, or with what gross ignorance they blunder in the plainest matters.
In the flood of many waters. This expression agrees with that prophecy of Joel,
“
Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be delivered.” (Joe 2:32)
The meaning is, that although the deep whirlpools of death may compass us round on every side, we ought not to fear that they shall swallow us up; but rather believe that we shall be safe and unhurt, if we only betake ourselves to the mercy of God. We are thus emphatically taught that the godly shall have certain salvation even in death, provided they betake themselves to the sanctuary of God’s grace. Under the term flood are denoted all those dangers from which there appears no means of escape.
(664) In the Septuagint version it is rendered, “In the time of finding favor;” in the Arabic, “In a time of hearing;” and in the Syriac, “In an acceptable time.”
(665) “ Qu’ils nous faut avoir des advocats au ciel qui prient pour nous.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) For thisi.e., for this cause.
Shall every one.Better, let every one.
In a time . . .See margin. The expression, time of finding, is, of course, elliptical. The Authorised Version explains by Isa. Iv. 6; but Isa. 45:8 would suggest that forgiveness or acceptance is the word to be supplied. More probably still some general word, as goal or object, is required, the phrase being rendered by the LXX., in the appointed time; by the Vulg., opportune.
Surely.This adds emphasis to the statement, whether we render after Pro. 13:10, only unto him, or as in Authorised Version. Hethe godlyis the man whom, when the floods rise, they shall not harm. The floods may either be an image of Divine judgment, as in Nah. 1:8, or of temptation and trial, as in Mat. 7:24-27.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. For this Because of this signal answer to prayer, shall every one that is godly be encouraged to pray.
In a time when thou mayest be found Literally, During a time of finding; that is, as long as the time of grace lasts. See Psa 69:13; Isa 49:8; Isa 55:6; 2Co 6:2
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4). He Expresses His Confidence That Anyone Who is Godly Can Similarly Come to Him in Times of Trouble, Emphasising that God is His Hiding Place, The One Who Surrounds Him with Songs of Deliverance ( Psa 32:6-7 ).
Psa 32:6
‘For this let every one who is godly pray to you,
In a time when you may be found.
Surely when the great waters overflow,
They will not reach to him.’
The Psalmist now turns his thoughts outwards and asks that all the godly might similarly seek God for the forgiveness of their iniquities. He does not want them to suffer as he has. Nor does he want them to face unnecessary trouble, or final judgment.
‘In a time when you may be found.’ Literally ‘in a time of finding’. This may mean:
In a time when they find out their sins, or sin finds them out.
In a time when God can be found (see Pro 1:28).
In a time when men are seeking to find the answer to life.
In a time when God ‘finds out’ men in judgment.
‘Surely when the great waters overflow, they will not reach to him.’ Here he may have in mind Noah’s flood when only Noah and his family were in a place where they could not be reached by the great waters. Or we might compare Isa 43:2, ‘when you pass through the waters I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you’. In Psa 144:7 deliverance from great waters involved being delivered from deceitful ‘strangers’ (compare Jer 51:55). It is sinners who will be overwhelmed by the great waters (Isa 28:2; Isa 28:17; Isa 30:28; Nah 1:8).
Psa 32:7
‘You are my hiding-place,
You will preserve me from trouble,
You will compass me about,
With songs of deliverance.’ Selah.
The thought of Psa 32:6 leads him to apply the idea to himself. YHWH is his refuge and hiding place, He will preserve him from trouble, He will surround him with songs of deliverance. The latter indicates that he is not alone in being delivered. He will be surrounded by a multitude which no man can number (Rev 7:9; Rev 14:3). For YHWH as a hiding place see Psa 27:5; Psa 31:20; Psa 91:1-2.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Psa 32:6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee For this, namely, because thou art merciful, shall every one that is godly, truly penitent, and sincerely resolved for the future to serve thee, pray unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found; while there is room for repentance and reconciliation with thee. See Isa 55:6. The Chaldee renders it, in an acceptable time; the Arabic, in a time of hearing. There is considerable difficulty in the next clause. By the floods of great waters, some understanding dangers and distresses; agreeably to which the meaning is, that in the greatest difficulties and distresses, which may surround him like a deluge of water, they (those waters or distresses) shall not come nigh him, so as to swallow him up; but he shall in the end be delivered from them. Dr. Hammond, however, observes, that the words may be otherwise rendered, But as for the inundation of many, or great waters, (hereby signifying the wicked man, who, like a torrent, breaks over the bank, transgresses the laws, and sweeps and carries away all before him) they will not come nigh, or at all approach unto him; God, that is. They run on obstinate in their course; they care not for, nor ever look after God. Thus the opposition in the former and latter part of the verse seems to be exact; nor is the change of person from thee to him any objection, that being frequent in this poetic writing. See Psalms 18.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Every believer’s experience confirms this: Psa 145:18 . And every believer knows also, that many waters cannot quench Jesus’s love, neither the floods drown it: Son 8:7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Ver. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee ] “For this,” that thou hast so graciously done for me, the godly shall gladly perform these two duties; the prayer of faith and the obedience of faith. As I have been an example to them of sin, which is now my grief, so I shall be to them of good, and that is my comfort. Where note, first, That every godly man is a praying man. God hath no dumb children in his house. Secondly, That such will be making use of God’s dealings with others for their own instruction and comfort, “For this.” Thirdly, That they will observe the fittest times to make their addresses to God; as courtiers watch their – mollissima fandi tempora.
In a time when thou mayest be found
Surely in the floods of great waters
They shall not come nigh unto him
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
shall = let.
godly = man of lovingkindness, who has experienced this Divine grace or favour.
in a time, &c. = in a time of finding [his need].
floods, &c. Figure of speech Hypocatastasis. App-6. Put for the time of need in preceding line.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 32:6-7
Psa 32:6-7
“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)”
“Let every one that is godly pray unto thee” (Psa 32:6). “Godly” here is a reference to persons in covenant relationship with God. Leupold complained vigorously about this verse, writing, “Unwarranted conclusions are drawn from Psa 32:6; Psa 32:10, to the effect that forgiveness is made available only to the righteous.” In our view, that is exactly what the passage actually teaches. All of the talk about the free, unmerited grace and forgiveness of God does not nullify, nor can it ever do so, the declaration of the Holy Spirit that, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14 KJV).
Yes, yes, the grace and favor and forgiveness of God are indeed free; and they are made available to men who cannot either earn or merit such marvelous blessings; but God’s forgiveness is “conditional.” If it is not so, why then, does the Lord tell us that the vast majority of mankind will travel “the broad way that leadeth to destruction” (Mat 7:13)?
“In a time when thou mayest be found” (Psa 32:6). “This is a reference to turning to God from sin while the opportunity remains. Procrastination may rob one of eternal life; and we may speculate that of the myriads who die without God and without hope, doubtless a great many of them intended to make their peace with God “later”!
“When the great waters overflow, they shall not reach him” (Psa 32:6). This is evidently a symbolical reference to the judgment of God, based upon the passage’s suggestion of the Great Deluge. Kidner tells us that this verse inspired Charles Wesley’s great hymn, “Jesus Lover of my Soul.”
“While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high;
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide.
“Thou art my hiding place” (Psa 32:7). “This is an allusion to the Old Testament Cities of Refuge where men fled for protection.
How much more wonderful than those ancient cities is the blessed hiding place provided for the Redeemed in the love of the Father!
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 32:6. The quality of godliness is due to the attitude toward God, hence that kind of a man would be disposed to pray to Him. Mayest be found does not indicate that God sometimes is unwilling to be sought. But he will be found only when men have sought him after the proper manner and in the right frame of mind. Floods of great waters means the waves of troubles that come over men in this life. The floods will not come nigh him, referring to the man who has sought and found God.
Psa 32:7. Hiding place does not mean a place of secrecy for a wicked person, but means a shelter for David because he had trusted in the Lord. Compass with songs denotes that God would surround David with the conditions that would cause him to give a song of deliverance.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
For this: Psa 34:2-5, Psa 40:3, Psa 51:12, Psa 51:13, 2Co 1:4, 1Ti 1:16
godly: Psa 4:3, 2Co 7:9, 2Co 7:10, Tit 2:12
pray: Pro 1:28, Isa 49:8, Isa 55:6, Luk 19:42-44, Joh 7:34, 2Co 6:2
a time: etc. Heb. a time of finding
in the floods: Psa 42:7, Psa 69:1, Psa 69:2, Psa 69:13-15, Psa 124:4, Psa 124:5, Gen 7:17-22, Isa 43:2, Mat 7:24-27, Rev 12:15, Rev 12:16
Reciprocal: Exo 22:28 – the gods Jos 2:22 – found them not 2Sa 22:17 – he drew Psa 27:5 – For in Psa 66:16 – and I will Psa 91:7 – General Isa 54:17 – every Jer 29:14 – I will be Eze 13:11 – there shall Hos 5:10 – like Amo 9:5 – shall rise Zep 2:3 – hid Mat 5:25 – whiles Luk 6:48 – the flood Luk 12:58 – give Luk 13:25 – once Act 1:15 – Peter 2Pe 2:9 – the godly
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 32:6. For this That is, upon the encouragement of my example, and of thy great mercy vouchsafed to me, in answer to my humble confession and supplication; shall every one that is godly That is, truly penitent, and dreads thy wrath on account of his past sins, resolving to serve thee for the future; pray unto thee Namely, for the forgiveness of his sins, and for a testimony by thy Spirit in his heart, that thou hast forgiven him, Rom 8:16. In a time when thou mayest be found Hebrew, , legneth metzo, in the time of finding, namely, of finding thee; while there is room for repentance and reconciliation with thee. The Chaldee renders it, In an acceptable time, the Arabic, In a time of hearing. Thus Isaiah, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. The meaning is, in a seasonable time, while God continues to offer grace and mercy to sinners. By this clause the psalmist seems to intimate the difference between the truly penitent or godly, who pray and cry earnestly to God for mercy in its season; and the wicked and impenitent, who will not do so till it be too late, and the season be lost. Mark this well, O reader, and see that thou lose no time, but seek the Lord speedily, Zec 8:21, lest death cut thee off, and then it will be too late to seek him. Remember, Now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation. Surely in the floods of great waters That is, in the time of great calamities, which are frequently compared to great waters; they shall not come nigh unto him So as to overwhelm or hurt him. Or, God will set him on a high and safe place, out of the reach of them; as he provided an ark for Noah when the deluge came, to which perhaps he here alludes. Those that have God nigh unto them, which all upright, penitent, praying people have, are so guarded, so advanced, that no waters, no, not great waters, no, not floods of them, can come nigh them to hurt them. As the temptations of the wicked one touch them not, 1Jn 5:18, so neither do the troubles of this evil world; these fiery darts of both kinds drop short of them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a {f} time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters {g} they shall not come nigh unto him.
(f) When necessity causes him to seek you for help, Isa 55:6.
(g) That is, the waters and great dangers.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
3. The counsel of the forgiven 32:6-11
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
David initially advised the godly to confess their sins quickly, so God would not remove Himself from them because of their sin, and seem harder to find later on. If one keeps short accounts with God, calamities that God sometimes uses to bring people to repentance will not overwhelm him.
"Guilt is to the conscience what pain is to the body: it tells us that something is wrong and must be made right, or things will get worse." [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 154.]