Psalm 51 is the classic passage in the Old Testament on man’s repentance of sin and God’s forgiveness. David said, “Against thee, and thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight” (v.4). His struggle and cry for pardon reminds me of a story that I read in my high school literature class. It was called “The Tell-Tale Heart.” The main character in the story, as in this psalm, got away with murder. But shortly after the incident, he was overwhelmed with incredible guilt. His guilty conscience haunted him to such a degree that he imagined he could hear the beating of his victim’s heart beneath the floor of his own house. He could not escape it! The noise rang in his ears with an increasing volume and it eventually became so loud that he feared others would hear it. In order to rid himself of the burden of his own conscience, he finally confessed his crime. In some ways, this story captures the emotions of David as he tries to rid himself of his own guilty conscience before God. David desperately wanted to be right with God. What brought him to this point was a string of hideous behavior and a scandal of enormous proportion (adultery, drunkenness, murder, deceit and lies). The story is very intense!

What is the application for us? If forgiveness could be granted for this type of crime and a relationship restored to God, what hope it presents to all of us who have been defeated by sin. When we sin, we will face the consequences of that sin; however, if there is true repentance to God, He assures us of His forgiveness. The Bible says in I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins…” Have you committed a grievous sin? Have you hidden things with a guilty conscience and buried it deep in your heart? Do you feel like God would never forgive you? Psalm 51 displays the mercy and compassion of God and gives us biblical steps to dealing with our own sins. The Bible says: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

Please contact us at Harvest Bible Church if we can be of any help to you spiritually.