32:1 Maschil (see title) is a term denoting psalms written to make one prudent, to increase a person’s success or skill.
32:1ff Read this psalm in conjunction with Psalm 51—both are penitential psalms. Here David expressed the joy of forgiveness. God had forgiven him for the sins he had committed against Bath-sheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11–12). This is another of the penitential (repentance) psalms where the writer confesses his sin to God.
32:1, 2 God wants to forgive sinners. Forgiveness has always been part of his loving nature. He announced this to Moses (Exodus 34:6, 7); he revealed it to David; he dramatically showed it to the world through Jesus Christ. These verses convey several aspects of God’s forgiveness: He forgives disobedience, puts sin out of sight, and clears our record of guilt. Paul quoted these verses in Romans 4:7, 8 and showed that we can have this joyous experience of forgiveness through faith in Christ.
32:5 What is confession? To confess our sin is to agree with God, acknowledging that he is right to declare what we have done as sinful and that we are wrong to desire or to do it. It means affirming our intention of forsaking that sin in order to follow God more faithfully.
32:8, 9 God describes some people as being like horses or mules that have to be controlled by bits and bridles. Rather than letting God guide them step by step, they stubbornly leave God only one option. If God wants to keep them useful for him, he must use discipline and punishment. God longs to guide us with love and wisdom rather than punishment. He offers to teach us the best way to go. Accept the advice written in God’s Word and don’t let your stubbornness keep you from obeying God.