This blog is not for the faint hearted or skimming reader. It will take some time to soak it in. So turn off the TV and/or radio. Find a quiet place, grab a coffee and settle down and ask the Lord to help you to apply these truths. This is a bit longer than my usual blog but here we go.

If you think you’re perfect then this blog’s not for you! If you think you can do no wrong then this blog’s not for you! If you think you’re not so bad, since there are SO many other people who do worse things than you… then this blog’s NOT for you! BUT, if you don’t think these things, and you realize that your imperfections, your wrongs and let’s just say it, YOUR SINS are a problem, then this blog is for YOU!

Let’s face it, God is HOLY and we are not! Our sin is a BIG problem. Sure we can try to turn over a new leaf, make a new start, make resolutions or whatever, but sin has a way of creeping back and you know why? Because it is the most powerful and invasive, personal negative force that we will face in our lifetime! King David found that out and he found out some very powerful truths about sin and wrote about it in Psalm chapter fifty one. Let’s see what he learned. The whole chapter is about him confessing his sin to God and in the opening verses he uses some terms which are good to consider.

Psalm 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.”

To describe his sin David used the words transgressions, iniquity & sin. Here is what those words mean in the Bible’s original language:

Transgressions: This word actually means rebellion against God’s Word or God’s law. So when we sin we become a rebel against God. Not a good thing to be fighting against God!

Iniquity: This word means to become crooked and devious. The more we sin the more crooked and devious we become. We try to cover our tracks and we often lie about our actions. Not a very good thing to lie and scheme to keep our sins secret!

Sin: This word means to miss the mark. God has a wonderful plan for each of us but when we sin we stray from that path and miss out on His will for our lives. Again, not a very good place to be going in the wrong direction away from God’s will!

So to summarize, when we sin we become crooked rebels that miss the mark or plan which God has for us. Do you see the entirety and immensity of these negative consequences?

These words demonstrate the importance of us avoiding sin at all costs and when we do sin we must recognize it, and then go to God for forgiveness.

David also used three other words or phrases to describe what God does when we confess our sins to Him. Let’s take a look at “Blot out”, “Wash me” & “Cleanse me”.

Blot out: Means to erase or utterly wipe away. David wanted his rebellion wiped out of his life and God granted his request and erased it.

Wash me: Means to trample or wash by stamping with the feet. David wanted God to stamp out the croooked ways of his life. We may feel we’ve gone through the proverbial wringer in this process, but sin does have it’s consequences!

Cleanse me: Means to be made blameless, acquitted and set free to fulfill God’s purpose and will for our life. What a wonderful result when we are honest with God and admit our sins.