Psalm 32

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)

Psalm 32 is generally classified as an individual psalm of thanksgiving, a genre that incorporates the report of a crisis and the account of deliverance as an accomplished fact.[1] The crisis (32:3–4) is nondescript and could stem from a physical, psychological, political, or spiritual trauma, or all of the above. In this psalm the brief account of deliverance follows immediately and partially comprises a key to the crisis (32:5), which stemmed from the suppliant’s sin, unacknowledged and unconfessed (see “Theological Insights”). This psalm is also sometimes classified as a wisdom psalm, based on the wisdom-like admonition and similes of 32:9, the use of “blessed” (32:1, 2; cf. 1:1), typical wisdom vocabulary,[2] and a typical wisdom explanation of retribution (32:10). However, the unambiguous characteristics of the thanksgiving psalm weigh heavier on that side of the scales.

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