For I acknowledge my transgressions

‘For I acknowledge my transgressions. ’ — Ver. da.

“TiAVID has prayed for mercy; lie has asked that *J God would blot out his transgressions, and that He would wash him clean from the guilt of sin. He proceeds now to say further: ‘For I acknowledge my transgressions.’ He gives us thereby to understand for what reasons and in what spirit it is that he entreats mercy. He comes as one that is guilty to confess his sin. It is as one in this condition that he prays for grace. It is of the utmost importance for every one who desires to pray from the depths of his heart in the words of David, ‘Have mercy upon me, O God,5 that he should understand and feel these words, and utter this prayer in the very same spirit.

This knowledge of sin is, indeed, the indispensable preparation for receiving the mercy of God. Man could do nothing to cover or take away his sin; moreover, God does not require this at his hands. Only this does God command: Simply acknowledge the unrighteousness which you have done. God desires

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from him nothing but this: that he should acknowledge himself to be both guilty and lost. He must simply fall at His feet and confess the unspeakable misery in which sin has landed him. He must confess that he has sinned; that sin has made him worthy of punishment; that it would be righteous in God to cast him away; that he is also so entirely sinful that he can do nothing to make himself acceptable to God. As one that is guilty and utterly lost, he must submit himself to the sentence of God, and confess that it would be a wonderful act of divine grace if he were to be received. It is only when man is brought to the point of thus confessing himself to be in truth and entirely a sinner, that he shall receive mercy. Then he stands in the presence of God in his true relationship; then he can honor and praise God in truth for His grace.

And it is just this, nevertheless, that many who are seeking for grace do not understand. They imagine that the source from which a change of disposition shall take place in their hearts is God’s suffering Himself to be persuaded to show them favor. They suppose that, whenever they earnestly repent and learn to pray with much penitence and love and deep conviction, God will then manifest His grace toward them. And therefore they are always taking much pains to make themselves, in the presence of God, as pious and as earnest as they possibly can. They think they shall thus receive light and comfort. No, my friend, this is not God’s way. God desires nothing from you but that you should really acknowledge your sin, and cast yourself down before Him as a guilty sinner. Then shall you receive His grace both certainly and speedily. It is as a transgressor, as one that is ungodly, that you are to come. On such a one forgiveness and life will certainly be bestowed.

The example of David also makes plain to us the aversion of man from the confession of sin. For a long time he was well aware that in the matter of Uriah he had made himself guilty of a violation of the sixth commandment, and in the matter of Bathsheba of a violation of the seventh commandment; but, as he acknowledges in Psalm xxxii., he endeavored to cover and to silence his sin. He knew that he had committed sin, but he did not know the sin in its enormity and heinousness; otherwise he would have at once humbled himself on account of it. This state of mind endured for well nigh a whole year, until he learned truly to know his sin. “When, however, he could no longer restrain his convictions, he had no alternative but to pour them out and acknowledge them in the presence of God. And so is it still. There are many that call themselves sinners who are in some measure awakened to a sense of sin, but who yet take pains to forget their sin. They have the intention of sinning no more, and with this good resolution they come to God. They think that they feel their sin with sufficient poignancy, and that it will make them too dispirited to ponder it deeply. They thus keep themselves back from really knowing their sin. The man who desires to receive grace must be willing to look upon his sin and ponder it, and to become thoroughly acquainted with it. The more thoroughly he makes the bitter confession, ‘I acknowledge my transgressions,’ the sooner shall he be able to express the sincere prayer for mercy, and the sooner shall he be prepared to receive grace. He shall experience what David says, after that he had found that the suppression and covering of his sin brought him no rest: 4 1 acknowledge my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin ’ (Ps. xxxii. 5).

This incident in the life of David also teaches us a lesson with respect to the knowledge of sin. It is this: It is God Himself that must make our sin hwwn to us. It was only after the prophet Kathan had come unto him in the name of God with the word of conviction, ‘Thou art the man,’ that he cried out, ‘I have sinned.’ Man is by nature so entirely under the power of sin that he can hide it from himself even when he has committed it. This is one of the most dangerous manifestations of sin. It blinds the heart. It gives rise to pride, and makes man unwilling to humble himself. It is the work of the Spirit of the grace of God to make the soul acknowledge sin. Oftentimes conscience can make one afraid of punishment, but this fear is the least element in the knowledge of sin. Sometimes trial or sickness or fear of death may make a man tremble with the dread of hell; but that also is one of the least elements of sin, and a very slender indication of the sense of guilt. God may use these things, and the fear which they awaken, as means to inspire us with a true knowledge of sin; but they themselves are still beneath the range of this knowledge. How many sick and dying men have I seen that prayed for mercy without any true knowledge of what sin was. My friend, who readest these words, forget it not: God alone can impart to you a knowledge of sin. Let it therefore be your prayer: Make me to Jenow my transgression and my sin’* (Job xiii. 23). Jesus has given the promise:; The Spirit shall convince of sin 5 (John xvi. 8). Let it become your earnest longing to be acquainted with sin. Ponder your sin; confess it before God; contemplate it in the light of God’s law and word; endeavor to contemplate it close at hand as committed against the highest holiness and the eternal love of God; ask God to send His Spirit to you, as He sent Nathan to David, in order that you may learn to testify: ’ 1 acknowledge my transgressions.’ Pray, forget it not: there can be no real prayer for sin where this disposition is not found in the depths of the heart.