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[1] “Augustine had this Psalm written on the wall opposite his bed during his last sickness. His early life of wanton indulgence and licentious living had been forgiven. The joy of liberation from sin and the reality of forgiveness was his comfort as he was to depart this life” (Henry Gariepy, Daily Meditations on the Psalms, 66). Luther called his Psalm “Pauline” (cf. Romans 4:5-8) along with Psalm 51 (Romans 3:4); 130 and 143. |
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[2] Transgression “is a burden that one has to
carry (nasa’)…The object can, however, be carried away (nasa’) by
another. It no longer weighs on one’s
shoulders. One has been relieved of a
heavy and (potentially) dangerous burden.
Normally, God is the one who carries away the burden” (Clifford, 165). The joy and forgiveness of Psalm 32 is taken
from the Day of Atonement, “Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the
head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all
their transgressions
in regard to all their sins;
and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the
wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. Isaiah uses similar language in describing the
Suffering Servant, Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He
carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and
afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4) |
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[3] Psalm 32 is a Jubilee announcement of blessing
(vv.1-2,11 with Leviticus 25:8-9). |
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[4]
What could be more scandalous and shocking
than David’s sins of voyeurism, seduction, adultery, deception, murder and
blasphemy (2 Samuel 12:14 with Romans 2:24)? Yahweh’s justification of
David (Psalm 32; 51; Romans 4:5-8)! Romans 4:5-8 Yahweh does not impute
iniquity to those who trust in Him because He has imputed our iniquity
to Another Whom we imputed/judged/esteemed stricken (Isaiah 53:3-6). |
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[5] Sin is a great and heavy burden that God bears when
we put our trust in Him. |
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[6] Transgression, sin and iniquity were dealt with on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:21). Note the other passages where these three terms occur together: Exodus 34:7; Job 13:23; 14:16,17; 1 Kings 8:46-50 [context: bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the newly built Temple {1 Kings 8:1-11}]; Psalm 25:7-11; 51:1-3; Daniel 9:24-27; Isaiah 43:24-28; 53:5,6,8,12; 59:12; Jeremiah 33:8; Ezekiel 18:20-22; 21:24; Micah 7:18-20. |
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[7]
The word translated “check” (בָּלַם) is a hapax
legomena. Is the
purpose of the word to conjure up the story of Balaam (בִּלְעַם) (Numbers 22-24)? |
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[8] Psalm 32 ends on the same note that Psalm
33 begins and ends,
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