True Confessions, Week 12 Day 2, Psalm 51

True Confessions, Week 12 Day 2, Psalm 51

Celebrity confessions are a big thing these days.  It’s like there’s a laundry list of things one must do to apologize and make good in our modern world.  I’m pretty sure someone is work in a book right noe, “Confessions for Dummies”.  Sure to be a best seller.  And there are different kinds of apologies.

First, there’s the non-apology.  It generally starts with the words, “If I offended anyone…”  Why do I call this a non-apology?  Because it makes no logical sense.  The very fact that you’re saying, “If I offended anyone” is an oxymoron.  If you don't think you’ve offended anyone that you wouldn’t be apologizing.  So you obviously know that you did offend someone or someones.  When I hear these I really think the person is saying, “Good grief, I can’t believe anyone was really offended by this.  But I’ll say I’m sorry even thought I really don’t think I have anything to apologize for. “  Or they could be saying, “What I’m really sorry about is that I said it our loud.  Oh god, now I have to pretend I’m sorry I offended you.  I’d rather you just went away and I didn’t have to waste my time. They really aren’t “sorry” for what they did or said.  They’re sorry they have to bother issuing a ridiculous (in their eyes) non-apology.

Then there’s the apology that looks real, but how do we really know?  Especially in the case of public figures, we expect them to do something that shows their sincerity.  Give a donation. Pay a fine.  Serve their time.  Participate in some sort of program.  Get treatment.  Take time off from whatever it is that they do.  Resign.  Etc.  And we look at what they say and what they do and make a judgment on if their apology is sincere.

 Then there’s David’s apology after killing Uriah and having his guilt exposed by Nathan.  Some of what he says doesn't fit very well in our current world, in our culture.  In Psalm 51 he says, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only have I sinned.”  Really?  Seems like Uriah bore the brunt of David’s sin.  Not really sure how Bathsheba felt about it.  What about how David’s sin will affect the nation?  Yet David says his sin is against God and God alone. 

David’s confession represents a completely different world view.  We view that we have harmed someone.  And only the person that we have harmed, or “if” we offended them, can be the ones to forgives us.  But, at least for public figures that isn’t true.  I’m going to take a brief step into current events and politics to make my point.  I hope that even if you don’t completely agree with my point of view you’ll get the point that I’m trying to make.

Bill Cosby has been in the news recently in horrible and awful ways.  He’s accused of sexual assault by many different women that occurred over decades.  I’m not in a place to judge his guilt.  And I really believer in the concept of innocent until proven guilty.  On the other hand, to have so many women come forward.  It seems highly unlikely that so many women would make false accusations against him.  And public opinion and judgment have fallen on Bill Cosby in a mighty way.  I don’t know where that it end but it very much looks like his career as an entertainer is over.  One can only guess if he will face and criminal or civil legal proceeding.

Then we had President Bill Clinton.  He was also accused by many women of unwanted sexual advances over the years.  He admitted to an affair with an intern, or at least he did depending on what the meaning of the word “is” is.  Yet former President Bill Clinton gets hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fee, is regularly interviewed, and works for national and international causes.

When I look at these two men and the things they are accessed of, the things they have admitted to it tells me how fickle we are as people, as a society.  What one does is labeled unforgivable.  The other does the same and is highly regarded.

You can judge these two men or not as you see fit.  And that may affect how we react to them.  And I’m not saying that society should ignore and not deal with these issues.  But ultimately it is God who will judge them.  And it is God who they have sinned against.  And, while our approval may affect how we react to them in this world, it is God’s Word that is final, both in terms of their guilt and if they have received forgiveness from God.

What is critical of each of us is that we realize that we are in the same boat.  Most of us will be fortunate that our sin is not subject of a 20/20 interview or Congressional hearing.  But that should be small comfort, since who we all answer to is a much higher and more final authority that either 20/20, Congress or public opinion.  We all will answer to God.  And we all need to confess our sin to God and pray that He would, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

No “if” in this one.  You have sinned against God.  Make your peace with Him.  You should also make it with those you have harmed if they will let you.  But it’s only God who can truly forgive.

God, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only have I sinned.”  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”  Amen

Leonard

Never ever try to “out pray” the Psalms.  At least that’s my opinion.