A Maskil of David: Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. -Psalm 32:title-2
The title of Psalm 32 tells us it is a Maskil or Maschil, when means literally, “A Psalm of David giving instruction.” This helps us know how to approach the Psalm. Since it was given for instruction, we should be prepared to learn a lesson from the Psalmist.
It happens to be the case that this Psalm is going to teach the secret to blessedness in life. To be blessed it to be favored of the Lord, to be happy. It’s closest synonym is probably the Greek idea of eudiamonia, eu = good and diamon = spirit, to have a good demon, or a well-ordered soul. In English, we translate eudiamonia happiness, or even better, human flourishing.
In the ancient world, it was often considered that to be blessed was to flourish: and abundance of the fruit of the womb and the fruit of the ground. Here David is instructing the listener that true blessedness is to be in right fellowship with the Lord. To have your transgressions covered, your sins forgiven, and have no iniquity counted against you is to be blessed.
So how is the state of “forgiveness” attained? The first lesson is that we must not possess in our spirit, any deceit. We must be honest about our sin. We cannot try to justify our sins before the Lord, but we must confess (to agree with God) our sinful thoughts and actions truthfully and completely.
I cannot tell you how much your daily sharing from God’s word means to me. It’s the first thing I read every morning. I can tell you put much thought and prayer into each one. Thank you Scott!
Thank you, Phyllis!