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The Hebrew Psalter is a marvelous resource for a living response to the God who has created us and redeems us in Jesus Christ. This Psalm gives us a classic form of confession of sin (verses 2-5) followed by deliverance (verses 6-7). Surrounding this heart of the Psalm is the assurance of joy in the … Continue reading “Psalm 32 Commentary by Paul S. Berge”

In Christian tradition, Psalm 32 has long been classified as one of the seven “penitential psalms,” which are often read during the liturgical season of Lent. As a season of repentance, discipline, and preparation, Lent brings themes of sin, confession, and redemption to the forefront of our thinking. Reflecting on Psalm 32 is particularly appropriate … Continue reading “Psalm 32 Commentary by Cameron B.R. Howard”

What does it mean to be counted as blessed? How might we know? The psalmist here weaves a tapestry of tones together that invite reflection about the mercy of God and the importance of confession. They are like the tonal variations in an Ad Reinhardt painting that invite viewers to consider simplicity and complexity at … Continue reading “Psalm 32 Commentary by Paul O. Myhre”

Long before the insights from contemporary psychology concerning repression, biofeedback loops, and psychosomatic disorders, the ancient psalmist knew very clearly that unacknowledged and unresolved guilt could have serious physical consequences. There is no reason to think that the language of Psalm 32:3-4 is purely metaphorical — “my body wasted away,” “groaning all day,” “my strength … Continue reading “Psalm 32 Commentary by J. Clinton McCann”

For around a hundred years, “form criticism” has provided the dominant approach to interpreting the psalms. In this approach, the first step is to identify the “form” (German: Gattung) of a psalm. The belief here is that a crucial step — indeed, an essential step — in the task in interpreting a piece of literature … Continue reading “Psalm 32 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson”

If the Sundays in Lent has named themes as in Advent, this fourth Sunday would be a festival to celebrate forgiveness. The psalm, the epistle, and the Gospel readings all directly speak of forgiveness and reconciliation. The same could also be implied for the Old Testament text, since it tells of the people finally settling … Continue reading “Psalm 32 Commentary by Beth L. Tanner”

Three of the readings for this Sunday, including Psalm 32, speak of sin and forgiveness.1 The first reading tells the story of the prophet Nathan confronting King David with his sin. Adultery and murder stain the reputation of this beloved king of Israel. In the Gospel reading, an unnamed woman, a “sinner,” washes Jesus’ feet … Continue reading “Psalm 32 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

The Pursuit of Happiness The Book of Psalms has a good deal to say about happiness. Psalm 1 opens the Book by speaking of the happiness of those whose “delight is in the teaching (Hebrew torah, NRSV law) of the Lord.” The Jewish Publication Society translation catches the sense of verse 2, saying that those … Continue reading “Psalm 32:1-7 Commentary by James Limburg”

Who knew? The ancient psalmist was a clinical therapist, saying in effect, “Don’t hold in your pain, or it will eat you alive!” The author of Psalm 32 had discovered this modern truth long ago and acknowledged it to those around him: “While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day … Continue reading “Psalm 32:1-7 Commentary by Fred Gaiser”

Psalm 32 is one of the Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143). These Psalms center on the confession of sin and were a part of the worship of ancient Israel. Even today many churches participate in confession as part of their worship. The Lord’s Prayer offers opportunity for confession when we … Continue reading “Psalm 32:1-7 Commentary by J. Dwayne Howell”