Lent, Day 2: THE INNERMOST BEING

Psalm 51:1-9

It takes a person of character to admit weakness, failure, and shortcomings. We just don’t want to confess to anything that might show weakness.  Nevertheless, King David of Israel did just that.  He seem to know himself, and not to hide behind the visible.  So, he prayed, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (vs. 3).  He confessed, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me…I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight...” (vs. 3-4). He prayed, “Purify me…and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow…” (vs. 7).

It is quite a sight, seeing a king admit to this kind of humanity and human weakness.  King David, wasn’t an ordinary king, however.  Yes, he had his weaknesses and shortcomings and failures but he would not hide behind some sort of veneer that would serve as a cover up for his broken interior life.  

Psalm 51 was a prayer David prayed after he was confronted about his sin with Bathsheba.  When confronted, he didn’t hide or spin it some way.  He owned it.  David told Nathan, the man who confronted him about his sin, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). At this point, David took to his knees, admitted to his sinful act and the condition of his heart.  He opened up his life to God and prayed, “Blot out all my iniquities” (vs. 9).  

Years later, as recorded in John 8:31-32 Jesus would say to some Jewish folks who had come to believe in him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  Perhaps this is thrust of it all – knowing the truth by continuing in the living Word of God.  

None of us is perfect.  I certainly am not.  We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23).  That’s not the issue.  The issue is what we will do when the reality of sin is made known it us.  Will we deny the truth and run from it or will we own the truth, embrace it, and come to be free because of the grace that is found in the truth of God?

Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters, 
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain; 

But I received a glorious freedom, 
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom, 
No more in chains of sin I repine!

Jesus the glorious Emancipator, 
Now and forever He shall be mine.

--  Haldor Lillenas, 1917

Glorious freedom.  May we daily seek the face of God in prayer that He will show us our true selves, and in this may we be reminded, time and time again, that Jesus is the Glorious Emancipator.