EXPOSITION
THIS psalm has been selected by the Church for one of the "seven penitential psalms." It forms a part of the service of the synagogue on the great Day of Atonement. Yet it is almost as much jubilant as penitent. It opens with two beatitudes. The writer, while very sensible of his sin (Psalms 32:3-5), is still more sensible of the fact that his sin is pardoned (Psalms 32:1, Psalms 32:2, Psalms 32:7, Psalms 32:10). While his first words breathe content and gratitude, his last are a shout of rejoicing (Psalms 32:10). It is allowed generally that the psalm is David's. Written probably soon after his repentance, but not immediately after, it expresses at once his sorrow for his grievous lapse, and his joy when he dwelt in thought upon the words, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin" (2 Samuel 12:13). It likewise tells us something of his state of feeling during the interval between the commission of the sin and Nathan's coming to him (Psalms 32:3, Psalms 32:4).
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 strophe the two verses have been joined in one.