3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer . Selah . 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide ; I said , " I will confess my transgressions to the Lord "; And You forgave the guilt of my sin . Selah . 6 Therefore e , let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found ; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.

7 You are my hiding place ; You preserve me from trouble ; You surround me with songs of deliverance . Selah .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 32:3-7

Commentary on Psalm 32:3-7

(Read Psalm 32:3-7)

It is very difficult to bring sinful man humbly to accept free mercy, with a full confession of his sins and self-condemnation. But the true and only way to peace of conscience, is, to confess our sins, that they may be forgiven; to declare them that we may be justified. Although repentance and confession do not merit the pardon of transgression, they are needful to the real enjoyment of forgiving mercy. And what tongue can tell the happiness of that hour, when the soul, oppressed by sin, is enabled freely to pour forth its sorrows before God, and to take hold of his covenanted mercy in Christ Jesus! Those that would speed in prayer, must seek the Lord, when, by his providence, he calls them to seek him, and, by his Spirit, stirs them up to seek him. In a time of finding, when the heart is softened with grief, and burdened with guilt; when all human refuge fails; when no rest can be found to the troubled mind, then it is that God applies the healing balm by his Spirit.