Tehillim 31-32

Tehillim 31 – “I Said Rashly”

Throughout this psalm, the poet describes the distress he is experiencing, all while reaffirming his unwavering trust in God: “In You Lord, I take refuge; may I never be put to shame.” (31:2) He pleads for salvation. The psalm emphasizes that God is his shelter and his security throughout the whole way. And yet, when the psalm reaches its joyful conclusion, we discover that even the poet was not immune to doubt. When the poet ceases to plead and instead offers only praise to God: “Blessed is the Lord who has shown me His wondrous loyalty in a city under siege” (31:22), he also confesses that there were difficult moments along the way when his faith faltered: “Even when I said rashly, 'I am cut off from Your sight'” (31:23). Looking back, he recognizes it was a mistake to doubt God's divine providence – “Even I said in rashly”. The poet closes with a lesson for us all: never to lose hope: “Be strong and of determined hearts, all you who wait for the Lord” (31:25).

A striking comparison can be drawn between two parallel verses: one in the previous psalm and one in this one. In Psalm 30, the poet is in a state of ease thinking nothing can change: “In my serenity I said: 'I shall never be shaken'” (30:7). In contrast, here in Psalm 31, he is in a state of despair, and has already lost hope: "Even when I said rashly, 'I am cut off from Your sight'” (31:23). Whether things are going well or going poorly, everything can change in an instant. Therefore, never grow complacent, and never give in to despair. Always continue to hope for God.

Tehillim 32 – “Happy is the One Whose Offense has been Forgiven”

Psalm 32 wrestles with the emotional weight of the sin. In the first stage, David describes the anguish of bearing guilt by himself, he hides his sin, concealing it, but the result is emotionally unbearable: “When I remained silent, my body wasted away from my howling all day long, for day and night, Your hand weighed down upon me; my vitality dried up as if scorched by summer heat - Selah.” (32:3-4) But then, David confesses his sin before God, asks for forgiveness, and feels the burden lift: “I said, 'I confess my offenses to the Lord,' and You forgave (in Hebrew could also be read as "lifted" = "נשאת") the guilt of my sin - Selah.” (32:5) The Hebrew root נש"א  (to lift, to carry) suggests something deeper than forgiveness. God does not merely forgive the sin, He lifts the burden of the sin off our shoulders, and helps us bear the burden together with us. When one repents, he can suddenly feel close to God again, and go back to life with a new opportunity. As the Rambam writes: “Teshuva brings near those who were far removed. Previously, this person was hated by God, disgusting, far removed, and abominable. Now, he is beloved and desirable, close, and dear.” (Laws of Repentance 7:6)

Chazal teach that David “raised the yoke of repentance” (Moed Katan 16b). Indeed, the Book of Tehillim is filled with psalms that model how one can rise from a horrible sin and return to closeness with God. How can one take the story that has already happened, and instead of sinking into sin, do everything possible to repair, to learn from it, and to grow beyond it. Just as, at the end of our psalm, David shares a piece of advice he learned through personal experience: “I will instruct you and guide you along the path you should follow; I will counsel you and keep My eye on you. Do not be senseless like a horse or mule.” (32:8-9) May we merit to follow in his path, and reach: “Rejoice in the Lord; delight, righteous ones; sing out loud, all you upright of heart.” (32:11)