“Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” -Psalm 32:10–11
As we read these final verses of the Psalm, it’s important to keep the context in mind. The context is the consequence or result of confessing sin. Godly people are still sinners. Those who love the Lord, still struggle with idols and selfish desires. The difference between godly sinners and the wicked is their response to sin. The godly, though they sometimes stubbornly cover their iniquity until the conviction, that is the heavy hand of the Lord, moves them to repentance, always come around and confess their transgressions to the Lord.
The wicked, on the other hand, refuse to agree with God; and by stubbornly justifying their sins, they are compassed about with many troubles and sorrows. Solomon notes theirs is a hard road: “Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.” -Proverbs 13:15 Many translations translated it, “the way of transgressors is hard.”
In the same vein, Solomon also noted, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” -Proverbs 28:13
David confirms this in the final pericope of Psalm 32. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Steadfast love might best be understood as God’s “faithful loyal love.” John echoes this understanding in his letter to the first-century believers: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9
Therefore, like David, let the righteous and upright in heart (all those who confess their sins and enjoy the blessedness of complete and utter forgiveness cf. vss. 1-2) be glad in the Lord and shout for joy!