Listen "Psalm 32: A Maskil of Confession and Absolution -- 2019/12/06"
Episode Synopsis
Rev. Chris Biernacki, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Florence, Alabama, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 32.
This psalm is called a “maskil.” David wanted us to use it in worship, and he also wanted to teach us from his life experience: if you try to bury your sins and forget about them, they’ll eat you from the inside. We’re lying to ourselves if we think we can deal with them on our own. The only real solution is to confess and ask for God’s forgiveness. And at the end of the day, forgiveness is what makes life worth living.
Psalm 32 was one of Luther’s favorites. He called it a “Pauline psalm”—not just because Paul quotes from it in Romans 4, but because it teaches grace through faith. Christians around the world are familiar with Psalm 32, particularly the second half of verse 5: “I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
This psalm is called a “maskil.” David wanted us to use it in worship, and he also wanted to teach us from his life experience: if you try to bury your sins and forget about them, they’ll eat you from the inside. We’re lying to ourselves if we think we can deal with them on our own. The only real solution is to confess and ask for God’s forgiveness. And at the end of the day, forgiveness is what makes life worth living.
Psalm 32 was one of Luther’s favorites. He called it a “Pauline psalm”—not just because Paul quotes from it in Romans 4, but because it teaches grace through faith. Christians around the world are familiar with Psalm 32, particularly the second half of verse 5: “I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
More episodes of the podcast Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio
Isaiah 8:19–9:7 (For to Us a Child is Born)
16/12/2025
Luke 1:57–80 (The Nativity of John)
15/12/2025
Isaiah 40:1-11 (A Voice in the Wilderness)
12/12/2025
Luke 1:39–56 (Mary and Elizabeth)
11/12/2025
Isaiah 11 (Shoot of Jesse)
10/12/2025
Isaiah 7:1-17 (The Virgin Will Bear a Son)
08/12/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.