What does Psalm 32:7 mean?
ESV: You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
NIV: You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
NASB: You are my hiding place; You keep me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
CSB: You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
NLT: For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude
KJV: Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
NKJV: You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
Verse Commentary:
The Lord adds protection to forgiveness. In this context, this refers to God keeping His people from the distress of conviction. Unconfessed sin creates discomfort in the spirit of a believer (Revelation 3:19; Hebrews 12:6; Psalm 32:1–4). David tried to hide his sins from the Lord; doing so led to great distress. However, when he confessed his sins and received forgiveness (1 John 1:8–10), he found a secure relationship with God (Psalm 51:1).
Using military imagery, David regarded himself as surrounded by the enemy but delivered by the Lord. The deliverance brought shouts of deliverance. Paul perceived the Christian life as under attack from a sinister enemy, the Devil. However, he recognized that victory comes from employing spiritual weapons and prayer. Paul assured the Christians at Rome that believers are on the winning team! He exulted: "We are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
Verse Context:
Psalm 32:5–7 comes after David noted the blessing of being forgiven of sin (Psalm 51:1). That forgiveness—in response to confession and repentance before God—alleviated the pain associated with stubborn disobedience. Now David relates what the Lord did when he confessed his sin. He also encourages godly people to pray so they can receive the benefit of calling on the Lord.
Chapter Summary:
This psalm follows a progression of David's own experience: from the pressure of resisting confession, to the relief of being forgiven, to a renewed appreciation of God's graciousness for His people. David notes that being forgiven of sin is a great blessing, and those who resist repentance are delaying that restoration. He reflects on his own experience with stubbornness and encourages all people to seek God in sincerity.
Chapter Context:
Psalm 32 follows David's confession of the sins of adultery and murder. Psalm 51 records his initial response when confronted by the prophet Nathan. The background of David's sin, Nathan's rebuke, and the aftermath are found in 2 Samuel 11—12. For some undisclosed time, David refused to acknowledge his sin, but when he finally confessed it, the Lord graciously forgave him.
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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