Sin. Plain and Simple | Psalm 51

Welcome to Real Life. Others sin. I make mistakes.

Counting other people's sins does not make you a saint.
–Anonymous

What is sin? Our definition tends to change with perspective. If you wrong me. It's sin. Plain and simple. Yet, I excuse the same behavior in myself. I may have been a little rude. But I’m tired and he aggravated me.

David sinned. Plain and simple. But he didn’t see it. He saw what he wanted and took it. It didn’t matter that what he took belonged to someone else. He was king of Israel, after all—the highest authority in the land.

Except, David didn’t hold highest authority. God does. He is King of Kings. No one is above God’s law. David could deceive himself. After all I sacrificed for Israel, I deserve to get what I want. That is, until God sent his prophet Nathan. The prophet told David a story.

Two men lived in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had many sheep and cattle. The poor man had one small lamb. He raised it in his home with his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup, slept in his arms. 

A visitor came to see the rich man. Instead of preparing a meal with a sheep from his flock, he butchered the poor man’s only lamb. 

“The man who did this deserves to die!” David told Nathan. His first gig was shepherd. He'd nestled many lambs to his heart. He felt the poor man's pain.

“You are the man,” Nathan replied.

David, a king with many wives, stole the only wife of Uriah. Then had Uriah killed to hide the truth. Suddenly, David saw the ugliness. He sinned. Plain and simple. Psalm 51 is his humble confession. And his plea to God for mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
(Psalm 51:3 NIV)

Of course, David sinned. We see it so easily. But can we own ours? Or do we, like David, need a little help? If you’re brave, ask a family member, friend, co-worker. They can readily enumerate our failings. Better still, ask God.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

And lead me along the path of everlasting life.

(David's Prayer, Psalm 139:23–24 NIV) 

It’s time to get on my knees. How about you? 

Take it further...

• Read Psalm 51. 
• After we've repented and confessed our sin, God cleanses us. "Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7 NLT). Though we may face consequences for our actions, we don't need to keep punishing ourselves, wallowing in guilt and shame. Jesus paid the price.

Image of Lamb by Joanna Atkinson, https://www.freeimages.com/photo/little-lamb-1406384