Warm up in pairs: Today’s passage refers to horses and mules. Have you ever ridden a horse and how did it go? What is the first word that pops into your mind when you think of a mule?
- In the parallel verses of 32:1-2, what word does David use to describe the condition of the person whose sins have been forgiven? Blessed or happy
- What three words did David use for sin in 32:1-2? Transgression (rebellion), sin (missing the mark), iniquity (depravity) in the NASB.
- What conclusion can we draw from the fact that David uses three different words for sin, each with a different shade of meaning? The Cornerstone Bible Commentary: It shows how sin can pervade the life of the righteous.
- Note that David also uses three different words for forgiveness: forgiven, covered, impute. The NLT uses forgiven, put out of sight, and cleared of guilt. Same question again-what is the significance of using these three terms with various shades of meaning? The forgiveness of God is so amazing that it is difficult to put in human words, but David was trying to.
- In 32:2, David says that the blessed person has a spirit in whom there is “no deceit.” Who did Jesus describe with the same word? See John 1:47
- In Romans 4:7-8, Paul quotes Psalm 32:1-2. According to Romans 4:1-6, why did he think it appropriate to do s
- How did keeping silent about his sin affect David’s health? Can keeping silent about our sin affect our health? What other consequences of not confessing our sin to the Lord? 32:3-4
- Are there any benefits of not confessing our sin? If not, why are we reluctant to confess our sin to the Lord?
- When David finally confessed his sin, what did the Lord do according to 32:5d
- Why did David wait so long to confess his sin? Why do we wait so long to confess our sin?
- What does the “Therefore” in 32:6 refer to? He is referring to his confession and forgiveness in the two previous verses. Any time we see the word “therefore “in Scripture, we ask, “What is it there for. The words that follow “therefore” often give us words of action.
- What do the “flood of great waters” refer to? It refers to the need to confess our sins in a timely manner while there is still time. He most likely is comparing flood waters to God’s judgment.
- In 32:7, David said the Lord did two things for him. What were they?
- Most psalms are written to the Lord. In 32:8, the Lord speaks. What two things did He promise? NLT says this: “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise and watch over you.” Why do we sometimes not believe that His pathway for our life is the best one?
- What warning did the Lord give? 32:9 Don’t be like a horse or mule. Why do horses and mules need bridles and bits?
- What do the wicked have much of? 32:10 Sorrows
- What surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord? 32:10 Lovingkindness
- What three exhortations did David conclude with for the righteous and upright in heart?
General application questions
- Should we confess our sins in general or be specific? Explain your answer.
- After David confessed his sins, the Lord forgave him. He also does the same for us. If the Lord forgives us, why are people unable to forgive themselves sometimes?
- How often should we confess our sins? In our daily time alone with the Lord B. As soon as we realize we have sinned C. All of the above
- Why is I John 1:9 sometimes referred to as the “bar of soap” verse? Just as we use soap daily, we need to claim I John 1:9 daily
- How can we help people understand that there is no sin so bad that the Lord won’t forgive?
- What percentage of the population is carrying around a heavy load of guilt? Would an understanding of Psalm 32 help them?
- According to I John 1:8, we are we doing when we say we have no sin?
- Can a person come to faith in Christ if he has no conviction of sin? It is for this reason that when we pray for lost people to be saved we should be pray that the Lord would convict them of their sin and lostness.