“Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me. Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.” (v1-6,15,17-18,21-22)
This Psalm is titled: “A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.” According to Derek Kidner, a scholar who literally wrote the book on the Psalms: “Since with God to remember is to act, this word speaks of laying before Him a situation that cries out for His help”. In some translations this Psalm is titled “A Psalm of David. A Petition” which also means a request for action. If we read this Psalm, David is clearly asking for help.
God has brought a strong conviction over David, and David realizes that he has sinned. We’re not sure what or when the sin was, but it’s irrelevant to the point of the Psalm, which is a plea for forgiveness. This Psalm is classified as one of the “Penitential Psalms”, along with Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143. (penitential means to confess, or repent).
God has not only convicted David in his heart (“I groan in anguish of heart”), but there are some physical symptoms as well, which David describes in detail: “my wounds fester”, “my back is filled with searing pain”, “My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.” It sounds like David is under some serious stress around this sin, and he knows God has brought this upon him “Because of your wrath there is no health in my body”.
Despite the fact David knows this overwhelming conviction of both heartache and physical discomfort is from God, David wisely doesn’t blame God, he blames himself: “My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly”, “I am troubled by my sin”. David understands that this conviction is rightfully deserved because he sinned, it’s his fault, not God’s. I know some people (myself included) have blamed God for the conviction of their sin, when in reality, it’s our own fault.
So what does David do? The only thing he can – asks for forgiveness. “I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. Lord, I wait for you; you will answer”, “I confess my iniquity”, “Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.”
There are too many verses regarding confession of sin to quote them all, but here are a couple that jump out at me: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9)
Father God, I realize I have sinned and done wrong; I have been wicked and have rebelled; I have turned away from your commands and laws. For a time I had concealed my sin and did not prosper, therefore I confess and renounce my sin in the hope that I will receive Your mercy. I am drawing near to You O Lord. I am washing my hands, since I have sinned, and I ask for Your help in purifying my heart, for I have been double-minded. For it is with my heart that I believe and am justified, and with my mouth I profess my faith so that I may be saved by You, my Lord and my Savior. (Dan 9:5, Pro 28:13, Jms 4:8, Rom 10:10 par)
~ Conqueror in Training