Confession

Confession and repentance are good for the soul.  King David was a man after God’s own heart but he wasn’t a perfect man and he sinned at times and he knew firsthand the correction of God for his sins.  If you read Psalms 38 or Psalms 51 you will see what David experienced when he was corrected for his sins.

It talks about God’s discipline in Hebrews 12:5-13, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”

God corrects us because He loves us and He knows what is best for us.  I read Psalms 38 this morning and I think it spoke to me of just how miserable a person can feel when he sins.  David felt this correction was from God because he had sinned.  Read what he felt like in verses 1-11:

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,

Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!

For Your arrows pierce me deeply,

And Your hand presses me down.

There is no soundness in my flesh

Because of Your anger,

Nor any health in my bones

Because of my sin.

For my iniquities have gone over my head;

Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

My wounds are foul and festering

Because of my foolishness.

I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly;

I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are full of inflammation,

And there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and severely broken;

I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

Lord, all my desire is before You;

And my sighing is not hidden from You.

My heart pants, my strength fails me;

As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.

My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague,

And my relatives stand afar off.”

According to the footnotes in my Bible, sometimes our sins result in sickness as indicated in Acts 12:21-23 and 1 Corinthians 11:30-32.  It sounds like David was a mess and in much pain and anguish, and was also repentant in heart.  Read again what he said in the first verse, “O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!”

Sorrow for sin brings us hope.  God is the only one that can have mercy on us and forgive us when we repent.  Thank God for what He says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

There is something else we can learn from this Psalm and that is how we should react to God’s correction.  Sometimes we get angry at God and we do a lot of complaining and hinder the work that God is trying to do in our lives.  David chose to do the right thing and that was to be silent before others and take it straight to God.  Sometimes our friends make a mistake, thinking and saying negative things about believers who are sick or have other problems when they have no idea what is going on in their lives.  We may be criticized by people outside the church also and made fun of, but the best thing to do is not say anything and let God handle it; if we try to justify ourselves, many times we just make things worse.  David knew where his help would come from and he put his hope in God.

So, if you have sinned, always repent and confess and receive the Lord’s forgiveness, and always leave your case in God’s capable hands because He loves you. God’s Word says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  Something to think about!  May you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours.  Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!