Psalm 32:1-7

Penitential Psalms

When discussing the forgiveness of sins offered in Christ, John Calvin refers to Psalm 32:1 and says, “It is certain that David is not speaking concerning the ungodly but of believers [and that] we must have this blessedness not just once but must hold to it throughout life” (Institutes, McNeil, 3.14.11, p. 778).

One of the riches of the Reformed heritage is the Prayer of Confession. Although often painful, confessing our sins to God, both corporately and personally, brings relief to our pain as well as refuge in God. In Psalm 32, David conveys an experience of confessing his own sin: the pain he experienced before he confessed (vv. 3-4), the process of confessing (v.5), and the joy and comfort having confessed (vv.1-2,…