Ps. 106: Confessional Praise

Psalm 106:47 "Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise."

As a churchgoer, worship is a large part of the service, and it's likely true anywhere you go to church. And in this society, music is the main, if not sole method of worship. Offering is also a worship, etc...

But here, I get the idea that confession is also a form of worship. The Psalmist recounts the failures and misdeeds of his nation. He doesn't attempt to justify them or gloss over them, simply to acknowledge that they happened, and the past can't be changed. The Psalmist also accepts the consequences without protesting their severity, although they were extremely severe.

I never thought about confessing to God as a method of worship, but the more I think about it, it is an important vessel. It involves the restoration of a man's relationship with God, and gives God all glory and power to restore that.

Ps. 51: David's Confession

Psalm 51:7 "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

Back in 2 Samuel 11, we saw the story of David and Bathsheba. He committed adultery with her and then sent her husband to the front lines of battle, so that he would die, and it would cover up his sin. Nathan called him out on it, and this Psalm is written along the lines of David's confession. I don't know if it was written at that exact time, or after the fact, as sort of a memoir.

After this confrontation, David no longer tries to hide his offense. He knows it does no good to attempt to cover up one's sin from God. He knows he must absolutely throw himself on God's mercy. He understands that it is only God, and the restoration of their communion that can lift the burden of bloodguilt from David's shoulders. He acknowledges his sin, and that he is by his nature a sinner (since birth, v. 5). He is a dirty man, and needs to be cleansed. Specifically by hyssop. Remember that hyssop is described in Leviticus 14 as an ingredient for cleansing from infectious skin diseases (sexually transmitted disease, possibly?).

David wants to hear joy and gladness again, rejoicing from the bones God has crushed. He has received his punishment. And when he asks God to hide his face from his sins, I imagine that means something along the lines of, "When you look at me, don't see my sins." Not to ignore them, or pretend they didn't occur. Because they did.

But not only does he ask for forgiveness from this sin, he seems to not want it to happen again. He asks God to create in him a clean heart. A pure heart, and to renew a right spirit in him. He wants this lust problem to be cleared up. He doesn't want women to be a stumbling point for him. I wonder if those who battle addiction to pornography and the other trappings of lust see beyond just needing forgiveness, but also truly desire a pure heart?

He shows then what I consider a mark of leadership, in that he wants to teach others what not to do. He doesn't want them to fall into this sin, I would imagine firstly. And secondly, he doesn't want them to bear the burden of guilt that he feels. David can tell someone, "I've been where you are." He wants to be able to credit God with being his help, and restoring a firm relationship with him.

Again there is a reference to God not really desiring the blood sacrifices in and of themselves, rather a broken spirit and a contrite heart. God would eschew the sacrifice if a person truly came and threw themselves before God, and allowed God to take control of his heart. That's not to say God rebuked those who made the sacrifices. That was simply the demonstration.

Psalm 51 reminds me of:
Create In Me A Clean Heart by Keith Green

Absalom, Absalom by Pierce Pettis

Ps. 38: Confessional

Psalm 38:18 "I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin."

What crushes a man like guilt? Fear troubles David greatly, but it looks like guilt has a more agonizing effect on him. His guilt has brought him to the point where it has effected him physiologically. Psychosomatically? Clearly he is in a lot of pain, and describes weakness and wounds. Are these diseases brought on by stress? Are these afflictions directly from God to get his attention? Is David simply describing his state of mind because of the overwhelming guilt he is feeling? 

Deaf and mute, David goes numb, crushed by his guilt. There is a wedge between him and the one person he loves and needs the most, God. He knows that confession will restore this relationship. He doesn't appear to be worried about reprisal or punishment, whats more important is that He and God get back on the same track again.

Ps. 32: Blessing of Confessing

Psalm 32:5 "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—and you forgave the guilt of my sin."

Forgiveness is a state of the heart that I often overlook. It is bondage to go unforgiven. It's no better to be the one withholding forgiveness. Both parties are bound to the burden of guilt and pain. It is a blessing, a great happiness to be free of those burdens, and that is how David sets the groundwork for the 32nd Psalm.

Forgiveness and to forgive are blessings. It is the point where one man's sin counts against him no longer. It just makes a person happy to know the burden has been lifted. The silence, the not confronting, the not appealing for forgiveness makes one feel like he is rotting away. It is agony! Long after the pain of the original offense has subsided, what's the reason to lug it around any longer? It's time to go in peace and live a life in peace and vindication! 

This silence may be comforting. It's hard to admit a wrong, its hard to presume to forgive someone who doesn't ask for it, though they may desperately want it. A result of momentary discomfort, the anxiety leading up the moment, in the end is completely worth it. David wants to sing! Go, ask for forgiveness! Give it! Don't let the burden sap your strength any longer. 

This is the attitude David had. David, who need forgiveness for a lot of things. He experienced how wonderful forgiveness, and I believe he truly wanted others to experience this forgiveness. So he calls on others to cry out to the LORD, and accept his perfect and holy forgiveness, so the mighty waters won't reach them. While he may be found. This suggests there won't always be time. So stop waiting.

Confession restores relationships. The forgiveness at these confessions are what kept David blameless, despite not being sinless.

Pope John Paul forgives his would-be assasin, Mehmet Ali Agca.

Ne. 9: History in Confession

Nehemiah 9:37 "Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress."

As a ritual of confession, the Israelites clothe themselves in sackcloth and put dust on their heads. They spent a quarter of the day reading the word, and the rest of the day in confession of their sins. 

Confession here appears to be more than simply telling God how you screwed up, though that's a part of it. In reading the majority of chapter 9, confession appears to also be acknowledging who God is. What he has done, how he has blessed you, and how one stands in need of his forgiveness.

Perhaps that acknowledging, that confession of who God is, embiggens one's own sense of their need for God's forgiveness. It magnifies the need to confess to God, and the importance of God to one's own existence. Confession by the mouth not only allows a person to speak the words of confession, but to hear them as well. God clearly has the ability to know a person's heart. But rarely does a person truly know his own heart.