“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” Psalm 51:3 NIV
David does not hide or minimize his sin. He owns up to it fully before God as we see in verses 3-6. David uses several synonyms, each with a slightly different flavour and connotation. Transgression means “rebellion, revolt”, designating those who reject God’s authority. Iniquity means “infraction, crooked behaviour, perversion, iniquity, etc”. It comes from the root that means “to bend, twist, distort”. Sin means to miss a mark or miss the way. “To do evil” means “evil, distress, wickedness”. It is the opposite of good. David is acknowledging the awfulness of his sin in the clearest possible way by using these various synonyms of sin that describe its twistedness, missing the way, and its wickedness. As long as we try to excuse our behaviour, to rationalize our sins to make them seem somewhat less guilt-worthy, we haven’t confessed our sins to God in the way that is necessary. We must own up to our sinful behaviour, take full responsibility for it, call it what it is, and be repentant for offending God in this way. Only then are we ready for grace. Does this mean that David’s sin against Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah, were meaningless, inconsequential? No, not at all. But David recognizes that the greatest sin of all is against the Lord whom he loves. When David sins, he is flaunting his rebellion in God’s face. Yes, we can sin against people and we need to make these sins right (Matthew 5:23); but when we sin against our heavenly Father, we need to quickly repent and restore fellowship with Him. It is that gap that must be healed at all costs.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, may we never make excuses for our sin before You.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, David recognized that the greatest sin of all is against You – the One he loved. When he sinned, he flaunted his rebellion in Your face. May we grasp that our greatest sin is when we sin against You. It is that gap that must be healed and restored at all costs. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
Acts 25:13 – 26:1
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