The perception of David I had before studying this psalms and the previous two was a stately greater-than-life man; a warrior, king, musician, poet, romantic, and religious hero. However, his own words especially in Psalms 38, 39, and now this psalm reveal that he made many mistakes and committed sins often (12). David is now to me, perceived as an imperfect human like the rest of us. David created more trouble for himself than King Saul ever did when he forced David to live in the wilderness. “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin'”? (Proverbs 20:9) David certainly did not say that.
David exposes his many sins that have overtaken him (12). The consequences of sins are eventually troubles without numbers that blind and burden the soul. The heart fails under the weight of the consequences of sin. Sin is trouble I invite into my life. My sin is a burden that I was not designed to live with. I am the sinful fool that folded my mind. “The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” (Proverbs 5:22-23)
The greatest tragedy of transgression is that sin removes the love and truth of the Lord God that can protect me. Though God’s love reaches the heavens (Psalm 36:5) sin shields me from it (Psalm 61:7).
I do have hope. My hope is in the mercy of the Lord Jesus. He says, “Come now, let us reason together. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:18-20) Apostle Paul wrote, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)
