The Art of Confessing Our Sins

Psalms 51:1-19

Do you remember the joy and the relief you experienced when you were baptized...? Knowing that your sins had been washed away by the blood of Christ? Knowing that you then stood before God holy and without blame? -- Wouldn’t it be great to experience that same joy and relief, time and again? There is no reason why you cannot...! Even though you may have sinned terribly after your baptism, for God has made provision whereby we can enjoy the continual cleansing of the blood of Christ! Not by being baptized again and again..., but by confessing our sins to God - 1 Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” For God who is faithful and just has promised to forgive our sins! -- Just as we were raised from the grave of baptism cleansed by Jesus’ blood, so we can rise from our prayers knowing that we have been cleansed from all unrighteousness! The key is to confess our sins... But how does one do that effectively? Are there some things to keep in mind as we confess our sins? In Psalms 51, we have what David wrote after he was guilty of adultery with Bathsheba. He provides an example of how one should confess their sins to God. He provides what I like to call “The Art Of Confessing Our Sins.”

How should one go about confessing their sins to God? From the example of David, a good place to begin is with an appeal to God’s mercy and lovingkindness, (1-2) “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Note the basis of David’s plea for forgiveness; “according to Your lovingkindness”; “according to the multitude of Your tender mercies” -- David sought forgiveness based upon God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies.

The pardon we seek should not have as a basis in the merit or worthiness of man, but in the goodness and grace of God! As we seek “washing” and “cleansing” from our sins. Don’t base our appeal on our past accomplishments, for example, how much we have done for the Lord, or how long we have been a member of His church, but upon the goodness and mercy of God! Appeal to His mercy and grace! Knowing that He is slow to anger and abounding in mercy! - Psa 103:8-10 “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” -- Remember the parable of the Pharisee and the publican! - Lk 18:9-14 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

As we seek forgiveness, we must of course acknowledge our sins to God (3-4) “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Note how David acknowledged his sin. He did not try to hide it: “my sin is ever before me”. He admitted that it was a sin against God Himself: “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight” While it is true he had sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah, his own wife... David knew that it was ultimately against God Himself! He accepted the condemnation of God against him. That God was both “just” and blameless” in judging him as God did when He sent Nathan to condemn him.

As we confess our sins appreciate that this is key to receiving God’s grace - 1 Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Acknowledge the sin; while we may at times simply confess to be sinners, it never hurts to actually mention the sin for which we seek forgiveness. Understand that all sin is ultimately a sin against God Himself! Don’t fault God (His Word or His messengers) when we are exposed and condemned for our sins!

As we confess our sins, there is more that we should bear in mind. From David we learn that we should also understand where we and where God wants us, (5-6) “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

Until forgiven one is deep in sin. Using hyperbole so common in poetic language, David describes the depravity in which he finds himself. He is not trying to escape responsibility by saying he was born that way; only that he knows he is utterly sinful. But God desires much more. David knew that God wanted: “truth in the inward parts” - “wisdom in the hidden parts”-- Again, figurative hyperbole illustrating that truth and wisdom are to be as pervasive as sin had been! David knew that God desired to provide more than just forgiveness, He also desires: total restoration, with understanding and wisdom on our part, that we be equipped for faithful service.

Understanding what God wants of us helps us to appreciate what David goes on to say. Indeed, confession of sins should also mean that we pray for renewal and restoration (7-12) “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

David desired more than just forgiveness of sin. He does pray for forgiveness, using figurative language in asking God:
1.) To purge him with hyssop - Psa 51:7
2.) To wash him whiter than snow - Psa 51:7
3.) To hide His face from his sins - Psa 51:9
4.) To blot out all his iniquities - Psa 51:9
But he also sought for more; he desired...
1.) Joy and gladness - Psa 51:8
2.) A new heart, and renewal of a steadfast spirit - Psa 51:10
3.) A continuation of God’s presence and Spirit - Psa 51:11
-- As summarized in verse 12: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous Spirit.”

As we confess our sins we should look to God for more than just forgiveness! We should also ask for a complete renewal and total restoration! When we continue this lesson we will consider what David ask for in addition to forgiveness, as an example for us.

I Have Set the Lord Always Before Me - Cont.

Psalms 16:8

Finally, allow me to suggest that you set the Lord before you through your fellowship. Strength comes from assembling together. Just as there is strength in numbers - Ecc 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” In view of the very real danger of falling away we need to exhort one another daily - He 3:12-13 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We need to admonish one another through our frequent assemblies - He 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” -- Like coals in a fire keeping each other hot, assembling together is designed to keep the “spark” alive in our relationship with God.

The early church found strength by assembling together. As when Peter and John were released after being arrested - Ac 4:23-31 “When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-- for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” As when Peter was imprisoned - Ac 12:12 “When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.”

Our assemblies can be a foretaste of God’s presence. In which we drawn near to God together through song, prayer, and His word. In which we enjoy the fellowship of God and His servants even now - Re 7:9-17 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."’

Oh! for a home with God, a place in His courts to rest,
Sure in a safe abode with Jesus and the blest;
Rest for a weary soul once redeemed by the Savior’s love,
Where I will be pure and whole and live with my God above!
-- Alone At Eve, chorus, Will W. Slater

Do you desire to draw closer to God? Then “set the Lord before you” through these avenues:
Contemplating nature
Meditating on God’s word
Spending time in prayer
Having fellowship with other Christians

Do this, and we can draw closer to God, and sing with David:
“...In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psa 16:11)

I Have Set the Lord Always Before Me

Psalms 16:8

In Psa 16:11 we are reminded that in the presence of God there is fullness of joy and true happiness... “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
I am sure that all Christians would agree; but even so, there are times we all find ourselves not as close to God as we would like. We find ourselves spiritually weak, filled with depression and anxiety. In such times, what can we do in order to become close to God again? The answer is found in Psa 16:8 “I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” -- It is when we “set the Lord before us” that we receive the benefits of His Presence...

In this lesson, I wish to review ways that you can draw closer to God, or to “set the Lord before you”, anytime we find ourselves drifting away from God. Perhaps a good place to start is to set the Lord before you through God’s creation. Let nature help you draw close to God for the Creation speaks to us of God. It tells of His glory and His knowledge - Psa 19:1-2 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” It impresses us with His eternal power and His deity - Ro 1:20 “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” In their own way, such inanimate objects worship God - Psa 68:8 “the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.” When we take time to contemplate God’s creation we understand more of His power and of His person. This understanding enables us to come closer to God, just as increasing understanding between friends enhances friendship as it does any relationship (e.g., marriages).

Others used natural settings in drawing closer to God. Isaac would go out into the fields to meditate - Gen 24:63 “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.” Jesus would often go to the mountains to pray - Mt 14:23 “And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,”. -- It may be easier to draw closer to God in the midst of God’s creation (nature), and away from man’s creation (cities).

“Walking alone at eve and viewing the skies afar,
Bidding the darkness come to welcome each silver star;
I have a great delight in the wonderful scenes above,
God in His power and might is showing His truth and Love.
-- Alone At Eve, verse 1, Will W. Slater

But God’s creation can tell you only so much about Him. To draw closer, you need to set the Lord before you through God’s revelation. God’s word provides the full revelation of God. . Through nature we are limited in what we can learn of God. We can see His power, divinity, glory, and knowledge, but we learn nothing of His will and purpose for us. It is only through Divine revelation that God has made His full will known. He has revealed many things through His Spirit, who in turn revealed them through the apostles - 1 Co 2:9-12 “But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” Such things were written for our benefit and understanding - Ep 3:3-5 “how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

David and others depended upon the Word to remain close to God. David used it in many ways to stay close to God - Psa 119:92-93 “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.”, 105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”, 147-148 “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.” Jesus used the scriptures to ward off the Tempter - Mt 4:4 “But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'", 7 “Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'", 10 “Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" -- Let God’s Word help you draw near to Him who is the source of peace and strength.

Sitting alone at eve and dreaming the hours away,
Watching the shadows falling now at the close of day;
God in His mercy comes with His word He is drawing near,
Spreading His love and truth around me and everywhere.
-- Alone At Eve, verse 2, Will W. Slater

But do not stop with listening to God through His Word. To really draw close to God, you need to set the Lord before you through your prayers. A close relationship must be a two-way street. God has revealed Himself to us through His creation and revelation. We must reveal ourselves to Him, which we do through prayer by which to express every concern, to receive appropriate blessings - Ph 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” By which to draw boldly to God, to obtain mercy and grace to help - He 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Others found prayer the means to receive help from God. David found that confessing sins to God brought forgiveness - Psa 32:3-6 “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. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.” Jesus found prayer to be a source of strength in times of trial - Mt 26:36-44 “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.” -- Draw near to God’s throne through prayer, let Him know of your deepest needs.
Closing my eyes at eve and thinking of heaven’s grace,
Longing to see my Lord, yes, meeting Him face to face;
Trusting Him as my all wheresoever my footsteps roam,
Pleading with Him to guide me on to the spirit’s home.
-- Alone At Eve, verse 3, Will W. Slater

We will continue this lesson next week with a final consideration to set the Lord before you through your fellowship, noting that strength comes from assembling together.

The Truly Happy Man

Psalms 1:1-6

Wherein lies the key to true happiness...? We live in a time where boredom, depression and other forms of unhappiness are rampant. Is there some basic principle which determines success in finding happiness? The Book of Psalms with its very first psalm shares with us a key principle that can ensure true happiness...Notice the very first word of the first psalm - “Blessed...” Not "lucky", but "Blessed"!
1) The word in Hebrew denotes the idea of “happiness”.
2) The actual force of the Hebrew could be translated “O how very happy is the man...” Therefore this psalm describes “The Truly Happy Man”. In this lesson, we shall take a close look at the first psalm seeking to glean the principles necessary for one to truly be happy.

The psalm itself can be divided into three sections. The first section describes the blessedness of the righteous man. We are told of his character … (1-2). Described first from a negative point of view - Psa 1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;”. There is value in negative commands or statements:
1) For so much that destroys happiness is the fruit of sinful activity.
2) We ought to appreciate the value of negative commands.
They keep us from going astray and protect from harm and misery like restraining walls along a cliff, they keep us from getting hurt. Therefore it is said that the truly happy man:
1) “Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly”. He does not take their counsel as to how to live. He does not follow the advice of those who are sinful.
2) “Nor stands in the path of sinners”. He does not linger where sinners are known to go. For the temptation to go with them would be great.
3) “Nor sits in the seat of the scornful”. He does not join himself with those who ridicule and mock those trying to do right. Which sinners often do to fortify their conduct and defend their actions.

Notice the example of Hebrew poetry in this verse. Hebrew poetry stressed “thought rhyme” rather than “word rhyme”, where the thoughts are somehow related rather than just the words. Such thought rhyme was often expressed in various forms of “parallelism” (e.g., synonymous, 1:2; antithetical, 1:6). Here we find an example of “progressive parallelism” (walk, stand, sit). This verse may be taken to describe the journey one takes into sin... First, one going along with a crowd, then, taking a stand with the crowd; finally, reaching a point where sinning is not enough, mockery is added.

Note hisis character from a positive perspective - Psa 1:2 “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” “His delight is in the law of the Lord” which is:
1) The source of his joy and happiness is the Word of God!
2) It is truly his “delight” – as found in Psa 119:16,24,35,47,70,77,92,174; Jer 15:16-17!
3) He preferred it over the counsel of the ungodly!
Therefore, “in His law he meditates day and night”. The word meditate means to “moan, hum, utter, speak, muse”. The picture is one of a man reading and rereading half aloud to himself. Another word might be “ponder”. This he does with God’s word “day and night”. This is not implying a monk-like existence, but a concerted interest which goes beyond a casual acquaintance. What it means is that this is something he does habitually. He takes time to do - setting apart portions of each day. He does both day and night.

We are told of his prosperity - (3) “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
“He shall be like a tree”. This figure of speech is often used in Scripture to describe the righteous – for example, Psa 92:12-15 “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”; Jer 17:5-8 “Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."’ It had special significance to those living in arid climates (like Palestine).

“Planted by rivers of water”; this is a word picture describing a person whose life is rooted in God’s word from which one receives constant nourishment.
“That brings forth fruit in its season”; depicting a life which yields something worthwhile, providing blessings to himself and others. “Whose leaf also shall not wither”. A tree with roots near a river is not likely to be affected in times of drought. So adverse conditions do not affect the fruitfulness of one whose strength comes from God’s word! “Whatever he does shall prosper”. The figure of the tree is now left behind. This is a general rule, exceptions may occur for reasons which only God knows. But a life of piety will generally be followed by prosperity. For piety will heed God’s directions for success in life. And piety will heed God’s warnings concerning things that waste life. Such is the character and prosperity of the righteous man; he is truly happy and a blessing to others because he abides in the Word of God. He also becomes a monument to God’s faithfulness and the value of living by His word. What of those who do not delight in the Word of God, who do not receive the nourishment found in it?

In the next two verses we are shown the condition of the unrighteous. They are nothing like the righteous, (4) “The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” The phrase “The wicked are not so” is more emphatic in the Hebrew. Literally, “Not so, are the ungodly!”; emphasizing that the wicked are not like the righteous. The contrast as illustrated by the Psalmist. He does not even describe them as withering trees, but rather as “chaff that the wind drives away”, alluding to chaff blown away from wheat as it is tossed into the air. The illustration describes a bleak existence. Their life is one of futility (ending in eternal separation from God). Their life is of no substantial value, either to be blown away and not found, or to be burned (Mt 3:12 “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."’)

Their sorry condition portends no good end (5), “The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment”. I understand this may be a Hebraism (Hebrew idiom) meaning that the wicked “shall not be able to maintain himself”, i.e., obliged to sit or fall down in shame when convicted of their guilt. The Final Judgment appears to be under consideration. “Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous”, in all places where the righteous are assembled, they will have no place where they assemble to worship God, where they meet as His friends or where they together participate in His favor. But, especially, in the last day, when the righteous shall be gathered together to receive their reward, or when the righteous shall be assembled together in heaven. The sinner has no place!

The psalm concerning “The Truly Happy Man” ends with a final contrast between the two “ways”. The way of the righteous, (6a) “for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,”. The word “knows” suggests interest in, and care for, the person known -- One could say: “God himself goes with such a person throughout his or her life”
The way of the wicked, (6b) “but the way of the wicked will perish.” The way of the ungodly person “shall perish”, shall tend toward ruin. -- His path becomes less defined until it loses itself (like a trail that leads into a swamp).

Is not the end described for the ungodly a true description of those who go through life bored, depressed, or otherwise unhappy...? Their lives are listless with no sense of purpose or direction, gradually unraveling. Why is this so? Because they heed the counsel of the ungodly! They do not meditate upon the Word of the Lord! If we desire to be “The Truly Happy Man” standing strong like a well-nourished tree, bearing fruit at all times, with the Lord always at our side -- then the key is to delight and meditate in the Word of the Lord, and not heed the counsel of sinners! In whose counsel do you delight? That found in God’s word, or that provided by the ungodly in this world? If you seek true happiness, let the Lord be your counselor, and His word your guide!