The Joy of Forgiveness

David begins by calling the forgiven person blessed: transgression lifted, sin covered, and no deceit remaining before God. He then recounts the torment of keeping silent, when his bones wasted away under the heavy hand of God, until confession finally came and the LORD forgave the guilt of his sin.

O¹f David. A Maskil. ²Blessed is the man ³When I kept silent, my bones became brittle ⁴For day and night ⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to You

From his own experience David urges the godly to pray while the LORD may be found, because overflowing troubles will not overtake the one sheltered in him. God becomes a hiding place who preserves and surrounds with songs of deliverance, then speaks as instructor and guide, warning against stubbornness that must be restrained like an unreasoning animal.

⁶Therefore let all the godly pray to You ⁷You are my hiding place. ⁸I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; ⁹Do not be like the horse or mule,

The psalm concludes by contrasting the many sorrows of the wicked with the steadfast love that surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. On that basis the righteous and upright are summoned to rejoice, be glad, and shout for joy.

¹⁰Many are the sorrows of the wicked, ¹¹Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones;