Clear Confession

1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

It may shock us that David, “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), chose to sin deliberately against God. What could King David have been thinking? Did he really think he could get away first with adultery and then with murder to cover up his sin with Bathsheba? (For the background story, see 2 Samuel 11-12.)

David’s actions might surprise us, but we have also seen Christian leaders caught in similar situations. Perhaps in their powerful positions they became proud and thought they could make up their own rules.

David later felt a deep sense of guilt. His words in Psalm 32 may well refer to this episode in his life. (See also Psalm 51.) And when God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David, he abandoned his coverup and owned up to his wrongdoing.

It’s better to confess our sins before we are forced to do so by getting caught. Bearing a burden of guilt will handicap our spiritual growth in many ways. It will hinder our prayers and worship. It will dampen our joy and erode our confidence. It will entangle us with worry. What’s more, continued denial will only damage our reputation with others when our sin becomes known.

Why not come to the God of mercy and experience what David did: “You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Lord, I have too often tried to deny my sin. Give me courage to open my heart in honesty to you and others. I trust in your steadfast, forgiving love. Amen.