Scripture: Psalm 19:12-13
Sermon notes
The Psalm as a whole considers the vital lessons that are to be learned from Divine revelation both in Creation and in Scripture. The whole purpose of Divine self-revelation is to bring men to a fear of the Lord which will in turn bring men to see their sin and seek His cleansing mercy.
Any correct contemplation of God always causes us to see ourselves as a sinner. This is a spiritual reality that applies to all men—saved or unsaved. Here is a servant of God, uniquely filled with the Holy Ghost as described in 2 Peter 1:21 and he considers his own sin and sinfulness in the light of Divine truth. You can only be truly said to know God when there is a consciousness of the wicked pollution of our sinful condition.
In our worship of God we must always confront our sin as the Psalmist does here.
I THE CONFESSED DEFICIENCY OF HIS KNOWLEDGE WITH REGARD TO HIS OWN SIN.
The knowledge of sin that he did have. The child of God has an understanding of the nature of sin—even though we must admit the deficiency of that knowledge. He uses two distinct terms here to describe the working of sin within him:
- errors, v12. The word he uses is linked to the idea of wandering out of the path. It is used of ignorantly/inadvertently turning aside and also of the drunken reeling of the intoxicated—can’t walk a straight line! The word is specially linked to the sins of ignorance under the Levitical law. Cp Lev 4:13.
- Transgression, v13. He speaks of sin here in terms of rebellion and tumult against God. He saw the true nature of sin! Cp 1 John 3:4—lawlessness. He recognizes the tendency of sin to ‘multiply’ if not restrained. Cp Matt 13:33.
Who can understand…, v12. Cp Ps 40:12. He is speaking here of his own sin! It is easy to acknowledge the infinite depravity of mankind generally, but my sin is beyond my comprehension/discernment. There is no sin that I am incapable of committing apart from the restraint of Divine grace.
He knew well that he had secret sins, v12. In using these words he is referring to sins that ‘hid themselves’ or secreted themselves from him. They were present he knew, but he could not see them. Cp Job 34:32. Sin has a remarkable ability to hide itself; and our spiritual vision is never so clear in this life as to be able to detect all of our sins. There will always be a need to confess such sinfulness, recognizing the presence of secret sins.
This indicates the extent he was going to in dealing with his sin. In confessing secret sins it is clearly inferred that he has already dealt with the sins that were obvious to him. Cp 66:18. He wanted to be free from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:7.
II THE WORK OF GRACE THAT HE DESIRES TO EXPERIENCE.
There are several aspects of Divine grace at work in him that he prays for here.
Cleanse thou me…, v12. Cleanse > ‘to be pure, clean, empty, free’. In referencing cleansing he is clearly acknowledging the guilt of the sin he cannot see! Sins of ignorance required a sin offering under the Levitical law. They incur guilt before God. The cleansing that he desires is an act of Divine grace and mercy based on redemption. Cp redeemer, v14.
Keep back thy servant…, v13. His desire is for God to restrain the presumption of his heart. Sin boils up in arrogance and rebellion against God and impels us into wickedness. Here is an aggravated sin, Deut 17:12-13, 2 Peter 2:10. It is to be feared by the child of God because of the sobering implications. His desire is to act as the servant of God but recognizes that God must restrain the impetuous nature of sin within him.
Let them not have dominion…, v13. Sin’s agenda is always to dominate. Its power to do so is such that only Divine grace can restrain it. Cp Rom 6:12, 14. If salvation were by works then it would dominate as we have no power sufficient to control it. But salvation is by grace and involves the working of Divine power therefore sin shall not have dominion.
III THE HAPPY CONSEQUENCES OF GOD’S WORK IN HIS LIFE.
I shall be upright, v13. When God works this uprightness is the product. The term entails a ‘finished/completed product’. What God begins He finishes! Cp Phil 1:6. The work of grace that saves is at work in the life of the believer to finish salvation in perfection. This is the desire and longing of the saint. For this he prays in this life. His desire is to be sanctified and be made completely like the Saviour. That will be his destiny and something of that perfection is reflected in the present.
I shall be innocent…, v13. Same root as cleanse. God graciously grants his desire for purity. This will certainly be true in the end but is so in a measure in the present. Cp Heb 9:14. God’s people may live in a state of cleanness and purity. This is the purpose of God, 1 Thess 4:4. We can only do so as we continually address sin before God.
Let us pray as the Psalmist prayed. It is the mark of fellowship with God.