We can look briefly at
a case study while on this subject of mercy and confession.
After His moral fall
in committing adultery with the wife of Uriah, and the attempts to cover up his
sin afterwards (2 Samuel 11), the king David was later brought to the
realisation of his guilt, and the fact that what he did was deserving of the
punishment of death (2 Samuel 12).
Having been granted
sincere repentance, David’s confession has some pointers for us on the kind of
confession which God accepts, and its relation to the Mercy of God. This
confession is found in Psalms 51. We read his words:
“Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from
my sin. For I acknowledge (or confess) my transgressions: and my
sin [is] ever before me.” Psalms 51:1-3
David pleads with God to wash him “thoroughly” from His
iniquity, and it is “By mercy and truth (that) iniquity is purged (or washed
and cleansed)…”, and the argument he presents to God is that “for I confess my
transgressions…” Not as though the act of confession somewhat earns him the
forgiveness, but he realises that he meets the condition of Prov. 28:13, that:
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso
confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.”
1.
David’s prayer of confession was specific in
nature.
Of his transgression, he says to God; ”Against thee, thee
only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight:” Psalms 51:4. There was
no effort on the part of David to excuse his sin. He did not pass any blame on
either his circumstances or on Bathsheba, but fully acknowledged that what he
did was wrong.
2.
David had a true willingness to change.
This confession of wrong is accompanied with the plea to God
to “create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right sprit within me. “
v.10. David had a longing for a heart that would not transgress God’s law
again. This shows that his confession was over the very sin itself, and not
merely on the consequences which come as a result of the sin. This is what must
accompany true confession, a willingness in heart to turn from the sins which
so easily beset.
3.
In his confession, David hoped in the mercy
of God.
The very first words of David’s confession read, “Have mercy
upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude
of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Psalms 51:1. David realises
that the only hope he has of having his sins being blotted out is the multitude
of the tender mercies of God. Were God not merciful, David realises that he
would have no hope of his sins being blotted out. Thus It is not to say that
acknowledging the guilt has somewhat earned him the mercy, otherwise it
wouldn’t be mercy, but rather that he has fulfilled the condition upon which
God has promised to grant His sin removing mercy.
Thus, even in the case of David’s confession, at this
crucial step in the experience of conversion, mercy plays an important part.
What confidence this should then give us to confess all to the God who can
purge away our sins. We may come boldly not because we are deserving, but
because God is merciful, and it is just a part of who He is to pardon, cleanse
and remove iniquity from the heart of the one who confesses.
“While it is a disgrace to sin, it is no disgrace, but
rather an honor, to confess one's sins.” Testimonies
for the Church, vol.5 p.509.1
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