Psalm 32 is the classic Psalm of sin, confession, and forgiveness–so classic that Paul quotes it in Romans 4:6-7 to explain righteousness apart from works.

The Psalm begins with a beatitude in three parts: “Blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven” is reiterated with three nuanced synonyms for sin and forgiveness:
- rebellion – burden lifted
- wandering/failing – covered/hidden
- defilement – cancellation of debt
What is more important than the exact meanings of each is the parallelism that tells us “This is important and complete; God will forgive every sin.” I kept this parallelism in the chorus of my song.
One of my favorite things about this Psalm is the vivid picture of unconfessed sin: “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away.” People often glibly say, “Confession is good for the soul,” but this Psalm takes a much more serious view of not confessing–your secret sin will eat away at you until it causes you physical distress.
And then–Poof!–just like that, the Psalmist confesses and is forgiven. It begs the question of why we are often so reluctant to own up to the messes we’ve made. The Psalmist has a thought about that: “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding.” I recast this in more colloquial terms: don’t be as “stubborn as mules.”
Musically, I found myself in a folk/world groove that is amplified by all sorts of sonic doodads in the recording–tabla samples, Arabic tambourines, overdriven guitars doubled with synthesizers, and even a cloud of rhythmic patches like you’d find in EDM. What I most like, though, is the way the key of C minor slides into all sorts of other harmonic terrain without sounding forced.
Blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven.
Blessed is the one whose wrong is recalled no more.
Blessed is the one whose spirit is washed from iniquity’s stain.
1. Oh, when I kept silent,
my bones, they wasted away.
My secrets consumed me;
my groaning accompanied my days.
The longer I hid
the more weary and weak I became.
I longed for relief
but was filled with the heat of my shame.
2. I finally gave in
and confessed the depth of my sin.
I trusted your mercy
and God, you forgave me again.
Oh, why did I hide
from the One who sees sins and hears prayers?
The waters may rise
but I’m singing salvation’s refrain.
CHORUS
3. As stubborn as mules
we insist that we find our own way.
But we’re lost little lambs
and too proud to admit that we’ve failed.
God’s bottomless love
will surround those who give him their trust.
Rejoice in the Lord!
Rely on his mercy and love.
CHORUS