God Is Watching Over When The Weight Of Sin Is Oppressive

I cannot think of a single human being, who is honest to any degree, declaring that he or she has never or does never sin. Sin is endemic to the human race, since Adam first disobeyed God and became controlled no longer by God’s law, but controlled by his own sinful passions and defeats. The scripture teaches us that we were conceived in sin, that is, just because we are human, we are born sinners. This is quite obvious when one considers that children never have to be taught to do wrong things, but to the contrary, have to be taught what is right and good.

Sometimes even people who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, sin in ways that bring brokenness, sadness, remorse, and the heaviness of guilt. King David, chosen by God to rule His people, the Israelites, was one of these people. He sinned by committing adultery with another man’s wife, who became pregnant through the illicit behavior of the king. Then he added guilt upon guilt by having the man killed, so he, King David could cover his sin, and bring the man’s widow to be his wife.

So while his sin was “hidden” to people, it was not hidden to God. In Psalm 51, David describes the agony he went through when he was hiding his sin, and the relief of God’s forgiveness when he confessed and repented of his sins. David cries out, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean, wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness that the bones You have crushed may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquity.” David felt the weight of his guilt even in his physical body, and carried the burden of feeling unclean and unwashed before the Lord of heaven and earth!

After David’s confession and repentance, listen to his words: “...My tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.’ 

We all need to know and experience the joy that comes from the Lord watching over us even when we are under the weight of guilt because of our sins. He watches over us to bring us to repentance and then to restore the joy of our salvation.

Thank You, Lord, that You do not cast us away when we sin, but watch over us to provide a way of return and restoration through confession and repentance.

By Mary Fawcett