Psalm 32 – When I kept silent my bones wasted away
Why does silence cause such devastation in us?

David wrote, "When I kept silent my bones wasted away". But why? What was it about David's silence that brought about such internal devastation? Does silence still do that to us today? And is it for the same reason?

Psalm 32 - When I kept silent my bones wasted away is article #32 in the series: Psalms. Click this button to view all titles for entire series.

Wait. How did we get such a pleasant image when the title is "When I kept silent my bones wasted away?

It's because I pulled out one verse from the eleven that make up the Psalm.

And yet, while the one verse sounds negative, the overall Psalm really is incredibly positive. If we understand what it means. What it's instructing us to do.

So don't worry, there will be an image to match the title.

And a brief explanation of why the Psalm is so positive.

Not to mention, why I chose this one verse to write about.

Psalm 32

Psalm 32 

Of David. A maskil.
	 	 
Ps 32:1 Blessed is he 	 	 	 	 
whose transgressions are forgiven, 
whose sins are covered. 

Ps 32:2 Blessed is the man 	 	 	 	 
whose sin the LORD does not count against him 
and in whose spirit is no deceit. 

Ps 32:3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away 
through my groaning all day long. 

Ps 32:4 For day and night 
your hand was heavy upon me; 
my strength was sapped 
as in the heat of summer.

Selah 	 

Ps 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you 
and did not cover up my iniquity. 
I said, “I will confess 
my transgressions to the LORD”— 
and you forgave 
the guilt of my sin.

Selah 	 

Ps 32:6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you 
while you may be found; 
surely when the mighty waters rise, 
they will not reach him. 

Ps 32:7 You are my hiding place; 
you will protect me from trouble 
and surround me with songs of deliverance. 

Selah 	 

Ps 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 
I will counsel you and watch over you. 

Ps 32:9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, 
which have no understanding 
but must be controlled by bit and bridle 
or they will not come to you. 

Ps 32:10 Many are the woes of the wicked, 
but the LORD'S unfailing love 
surrounds the man who trusts in him. 

Ps 32:11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; 
sing, all you who are upright in heart! 

Background on Psalm 32

Psalm 32 is the second of the so-called penitential psalms. The others are Psalms 6, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. But the psalm might better be called “a psalm of instruction” from the title word maskil, which seems to mean “the giving of instruction.” Psalm 32 is the first of twelve psalms that bear this title.

The psalm should probably be interpreted in connection with Psalm 51, which is David’s great psalm of repentance. David had sinned in committing adultery with Bathsheba and had then manipulated the plan of battle to have her husband, Uriah, who was a soldier, killed. He had tried to ignore or hide the sin for some time. But when the prophet Nathan came to him to expose the transgression, David confessed it and was restored.