*Text: Psa. 51: 1-2*
“Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin”
Psalm 51 is a lesson on how genuine confession of sin is a necessary step to experience the full gift of forgiveness. First, genuine confession acknowledges what we have done to displease God. For genuine confession to count it must be followed by godly sorrow that causes us to genuinely grieve over the pain we have caused God. Secondly, genuine confession accepts whatever judgement God deems necessary. In His infinite wisdom, God knows what we need to keep us from continuing in sin. In His infinite love for us, He will discipline us as severely as necessary to produce holiness in our lives. Third, genuine confession revolves around repentance, around the deep heartfelt desire to turn from our sin. David’s repentant spirit was evident in His desire to be clean within and to be forgiven. He knew that the root of the problem was his depraved sinful nature. He did not just ask for forgiveness, he pleaded with God to wash him within. He earnestly longed to be changed within, so that he would never again commit such hideous sins.
The desired product of confession is mercy. We confess our sins so that we can receive mercy. Mercy is God’s prerogative, it is entirely at His discretion. He said He will have mercy upon whom He chooses to have mercy (Rom. 9: 15). But it is also God’s nature to be merciful, so God is full of mercy and He His more than willing to bestow mercy on all who will ask for it. The mercy of God is important, because the mercy of God is God’s assurance to you that He is no longer angry with you, it is God’s assurance that He is looking to favor you and not to judge you, it is assurance that heaven and the forces of heaven are not working against you but are disposed to work for you. The mercy of God is a life changer, there is no one that encounters the mercy of God and remains the same. Apostle Paul’s life will have ended very badly, but he encountered the mercy of God and his story changed for better. The mercy of God is a life preserver, every one of us living today are all products of the mercy of God, the bible says that it is by the mercy of God that we have not been consumed (Lam. 3: 22-23).
When it is done rightly confession will also give birth to mercy. Confession if it must be done rightly must be to God, secondly it must be sincere and totally truthful, no distortion of fact and nothing hidden. And then it must be followed by godly sorrow and genuine repentance. These are evidence of a broken spirit and the bible assures that God will not turn away from a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psa. 51: 17).
The mercy of God when released brings healing and a restoration of lost glory. Have you like David fallen into sin? Is there a secret sin in your life? Unconfessed sin will destroy and terminate every good thing that God intends to bring your way but when you confess them, you will have mercy. Lord have mercy upon us in Jesus name. Shalom
Prayer Points
1. Father you are the God of mercy, thank you for your act of mercy towards me that secured my salvation from sin
2. Thank you also for your covering of mercy upon my life and family all these years, especially this year
3. Father, by your grace I will never walk away from your protection of mercy in Jesus name
4. Father help me never to hide my errors, but help me always to confess them before you so as to receive your mercy and forgiveness in Jesus name.
5. Father may you heaven of mercy never be closed upon my life and family in Jesus name.
