The Grace of Confession

Dear friend,

Do you confess your sins when you pray? King David did, or at least most of the time he did. On one occasion he kept his sins bottled up in his soul and did not speak of it to anyone, not even God. This “man after God’s own heart” was as big a sinner as anyone. You may know already that he committed adultery with a married woman named Bathsheba. Learning later that she was pregnant with his child, he tried to cover it up. When that did not work, he used his power and influence as king to see that the woman’s husband Uriah was killed. David was a murderer and an adulterer.

Perhaps, however, you have never thought about how long this gross sin continued to reside within the confines of David’s own mind and heart. We learn in 2 Samuel 12 that the child of David and Bathsheba was born before David ever opened his mouth about his sin. This means for at least nine months, probably longer, he lived in denial of his guilt. Most likely he continued to go the the temple and worship. Maybe he tried to read the scriptures and even pray about some things. But about his sin, he remained silent. This reeks havoc on the soul. Listen to King David’s own testimony:

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” (Ps. 32:3-4).

The description here is of a man whose hurt is chained up by his own lack of honesty before God. By grace, David does not remain in this predicament. The Lord sends his word, through the prophet Nathan, and David confesses. Oh what a difference it made for him. He said, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is not covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Ps. 32:1-2).

Is there something you need to confess to the Lord? Of course there is! We are all sinners. We all sin each day. Talk to God specifically about those sins you are aware of in your life. Beg his forgiveness in Christ and then you can enjoy the blessed words of God, “The Lord has taken away your sin” (2 Samuel 12:13).

Your servant,

Stephen

Rev. Stephen St. John
Pastor/Elder