Everyone has fallen into sin. That is our nature and our limitations as human beings. However, the response to such sinfulness often differs from one person to another. On the one hand, there are those who realize their sinfulness and immediately beg for God's mercy and forgiveness. On the other hand, there are also those who choose to "hide" their sins from God, not admitting them, or even denying them. As believers, the first response is what God wants. To those who confess their sins, God reveals His forgiveness and mercy.
The struggle reflected in Psalm chapter 51 reflects a well-known story, when David fell into sin by taking Bathsheba as his wife. David even devised an evil plan to eliminate Uriah, Bathsheba's husband. What David did was evil in God's eyes. He sent Nathan the prophet to rebuke David severely. After David heard the rebuke, thankfully he did not choose to harden his heart but rather confessed his sins and repented before God. Our passage today features David's most sincere cry of contrition.
Repentance for sin always begins with confession. It is the courage to confess that distinguishes those who want to repent and those who do not. David shows a confession of sin that is based on the realization of the fragility of the self that easily falls into sin. In this poem we see sin as a shackle that captivates and entangles human life. No matter how hard we ignore sin, it continues to reveal itself and disturb our conscience. The psalmist describes it as a struggle with sin. A sinner has done what is evil in the eyes of the Lord. So it is to God alone that we look to His mercy and wisdom to blot out our transgressions. In verse 10 the psalmist expresses his desire for God to wash away his sin and restore him.
Bible friends, let us confess our sins and faults before God. Often we are so hard-hearted and refuse to admit that we have sinned. Though the evasion of the sin is of no use at all. It is better if we are honest before Him and ask Him to restore us. He is the Lord who has the power to cleanse and restore us.
