提要
大衛在詩篇第卅一篇中再度抱怨惡人譭謗他。這篇詩篇的寫成時機可能是押沙龍造反，迫使大衛逃命的時候。他感到既悲哀、又羞恥，然而他還是堅信耶和華是他的拯救者，可以作他的庇護所，因為他認為祂就是他的磐石和山寨。他的禱告充份顯示他完全信靠上帝的帶領；後來，耶穌被釘在十字架上時，也講過同一句話：「我將我的靈魂交在您手裡」（31：5上；路23：46），使得這句話更顯神聖，也更具意義。然而大衛在寫作當時並沒有想死和最後將靈魂交給上帝，而是依照個人體驗到的救恩和真理，每天將自己的生命交託在上帝的手裡，並且相信上帝就是他的拯救者（31：5下）。在每一種生活情況中，尤其是將要死亡時，信徒務要肯定，將靈魂完全交託給上帝。
當大衛懇切呼求上帝時，充份表白了他所遭遇的悲慘情況（31：9~18）。他知道上帝明白他的困苦和艱難（31：7），而且已經本著憐憫拯救他脫離仇敵的掌握，帶領他到一個安全寬闊的地方（31：8；可能是指他逃離耶城，避他兒子押沙龍的追殺，以及在約旦河東平原，瑪哈念城中上帝為他提供一個堅固的庇護所（31：21；撒下15：14；17：24、27~29）。雖然他被「隔絕」，無法在耶城聖殿中禱告，他還是相信上帝會垂聽他的祈求（31：22）。身為被放逐的君王，大衛覺得自己像一個「破碎的器皿」（31：12下）──沒有用處，所以被人扔了出去。由於兒子的背叛，大衛深感他的年歲因愁苦而消耗，他已為他過去的罪付出重大的代價，因而覺得自己衰微了（31：10）；然而他知道，這一切都在上帝的掌握中，他的獲救與死亡都在上帝的手中（31：15）。大衛回想上帝過去所施的憐憫與現在所給的幫助，心裡就充滿了感恩，因而相信上帝會繼續保守他（31：23）。由於大衛信靠耶和華的緣故，他也努力鼓勵別人去愛耶和華，並且仰望祂（31：24）。
詩篇第卅二篇為悔改的人帶來安慰，並且向他們保證，上帝會寬恕他們，使他們復原，還給他們更新的喜悅。這篇詩篇寫成的時機也許是大衛坦承與拔示巴通姦及犯了謀殺罪之後，向上帝求饒得赦的時候（撒下第十一章）。他從他自己的經驗中學到一個寶貴的教訓，因而向別人提出忠告。他告訴大家，真正快樂（有福氣^的人就是獲得上帝赦免的人。
神賜給一個悔罪者的三重福氣就是：（1）過犯（transgression，有意背逆上帝及祂的律法）得到赦免；（2）罪（sin，沒有正中目標，或是不足）得遮蓋；（3）罪（iniquity，邪惡的行為）沒有被控訴，而被稱義，就好像沒有犯過罪似的。祝福的結果就是免除罪惡的重擔，這點大衛王在詩中描寫的非常生動。當一個人的「罪被遮蓋」時，必定是藉著所獻的祭把血灑在施恩座上，從而領受上帝的救贖恩功。而那真「祭物」就是耶穌，祂為我們流了寶血，我們的罪才得到遮蓋（羅3：24；約壹2：2）。
罪是一個令人心驚膽戰的東西。它違反了上帝的本性、聖潔、完善、及屬性。它是人類的重擔，因為它會使人類永遠沉淪。當大衛「閉口不認罪」時，他一直處在受苦的狀態中，身心都因罪而受煎熬。他的良心使他得不到安寧，而且感到上帝的憤怒臨在他的身上（32：3~5）。
當大衛在上帝的面前坦然認罪時，他就體驗到完全的解脫、潔淨及安慰（參約壹1：9）。他再一次說，上帝是他的藏身之處。由於每個人都可以得到上帝的寬恕，大衛鼓勵人在可尋找的時候趕快尋求祂（賽 55：6；來3：13）。如果不及時悔改，總有一天想認罪也遲了。乘著現在還有時候，每個人都應及時悔改，才好與上帝建立靈交。為了進一步勸人在上帝面前認罪悔改，大衛被聖靈感動以偉大拯救者的第一人稱說道：「我要教導你，指示你當行的路」（卅二：8）。大衛勸人人要順服的來到上帝面前，不要像一隻冥頑不靈的畜牲，因為與上帝和好可以帶來喜悅和平安，我們真該為這福氣頌讚！
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Overview
Once again in Psalm 31, David complains about the wicked who are slandering him. The occasion for writing was likely when David was forced to flee because of Absalom's revolt. He was both grieved and humiliated, yet he had confidence in God's deliverance and took refuge in God, whom he expressed as being his Rock and fortress of defense. His total dependence and consecration to God was evident in his words which were made sacred and given a fuller meaning by Jesus' use of them while on the cross: "Into Your hand I commit my spirit" (31:5a; Luke 23:46). At the time, David was not thinking about his death and the final committal of his soul to God, but rather a daily committal of his life and a trust in the Lord for deliverance, based upon his personal experience of God's redemption and truth (31:5b). In every situation of life, especially when near death, the believer must be certain that his spirit is indeed wholly committed to the Lord.
With an intensified appeal to the Lord, David described his grim situation (31:9-18). He knew that God was aware of all his sorrows (31:7) and had already mercifully freed him from the hand of the enemy and brought him to a wide and safe place (31:8 possibly refers to his escape from Absalom by leaving Jerusalem, and the refuge and sustenance God provided in the plains east of the Jordan at the fortified city of Mahanaim, 31:21; 2 Samuel 15:14; 17:24, 27-29). Though he was "cut off" from praying in the House of God at Jerusalem, David was confident that God still heard his supplications (31:22). As an ousted king, he felt like a "broken vessel" (31:12b)— useless and thrown away. Years of grief over the misconduct of his children and his past sins had taken its toll, and he felt wasted away (31:10); yet he knew God was in control, and his time of deliverance, as well as his time of death, were in God's hands (31:15). By recalling the Lord's past mercies and present help, David was filled with gratitude and faith that God would continue to preserve him (31:23). His trust in God's goodness prompted him to encourage others to also love the Lord and put their hope in Him (31:24).
Psalm 32 brings comfort to the penitent and the assurance of God's forgiveness, restoration, and a renewed joy. The occasion for writing this psalm was most likely after David had experienced the forgiveness of God after repenting of his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband (2 Samuel 11). He had learned from his experience and had important advice to pass on to others. He taught that the truly happy (blessed) person is the one who is forgiven by God.
The three-fold blessing God initiates for the penitent is: (1) forgiveness of transgression (a deliberate trespass in willful rebellion against God and His laws); (2) covering of sin (missing the mark or target, falling short); and, (3) not being charged with iniquity (perversity) but rather being justified, as though no sin had been committed. The blessed result is freedom from the burden of sin and guilt, which David so vividly described. The one whose "sin is covered" has received the atoning work of God by the spilt blood of the Sacrifice upon the Mercy Seat. Jesus shed His blood so that our sins may be covered (Romans 3:24; 1 John 2:2).
Sin is a horrible and frightening thing. It is against God's person, holiness, perfection, and attributes. It is the heaviest burden upon mankind, for it leads to an eternity in hell. While David "kept silent" before confessing his sin and repenting, he was constantly in a state of suffering, both in body and mind, because of his guilt. His conscience would not let him rest, and he felt the wrath of God upon him (32:3-5).
What tremendous relief, cleansing, and comfort David experienced when he confessed his sin openly before God (note 1 John 1:9). Once again, he could say that God was his safe hiding place. Because God's forgiveness is available to all, David also encouraged others to call upon Him while He may be found (cf. Isaiah 55:6; Hebrews 3:13). There will come a day when it will be too late to make a confession of sin. While there is still time, God desires all to come to repentance, that He might have fellowship with them. To further exhort the people to confess their sin before God, David spoke the words of his Great Deliverer who promised to instruct, teach, and guide His children in the way they should go (32:8). David urged them to come to God willingly and submissively, not like a stubborn animal, for fellowship with God brings great joy and inward peace, about which we should sing and shout!
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