PRAYER FOR FREEDOM FROM SIN


A. "BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MINE INIQUITY, AD CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN" - PSALMS 51:1-2
  1. The skeptic who points to the failings of David is well advised:
    1. To read and meditate upon this prayer by the penitent king
    2. They will find the deep, deep sorrow of the man whose life had been stained by grievous sins
  2. Our opening text embodies a flood of light:
    1. On the nature of godly penitence
    2. It outlines some of the developments of sin in different aspects
B. PRAYER FOR FREEDOM FROM SIN AND ITS ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES
  1. Note first, how David thought of his sins:
    1. "Blot out my transgressions" - here David uses the plural - thinking of many isolated instances of sins committed by him - transgression means violations - breaking God's law - I John 3:4; missing the mark - Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22 ` b. "Wash me from mine iniquity" - the word "iniquity" means that which is twisted, bent, being deceitful, dishonest
    2. "Cleanse me from my sin" - sin is the transgression of God's law - I John 3:4; all unrighteousness is sin - I John 5:17; unbelief is sin - Rom. 14:23
  2. Note further how he prayed that God would deal with each one of the types of sin:
    1. "Blot out my transgressions" - this shows that David knew that there are books in heaven in which our transgressions are recorded - compare - Jeremiah 2:22 with Rev. 20:10-12; Dan. 7:9-11
    2. "Wash me from mine iniquity" - these are defiling sins and one cannot get rid of them, save by washing - Is. 1:17-19; "Wash me with hyssop" - Ps. 51:7
    3. There is a fountain where complete cleansing is found - compare Zech. 13:1 with I John 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19; Rev. 1:5
    4. "Cleanse me from my sin" - with this he must have reference to evil tendencies from which God was to free him - perhaps mortification - Rom. 6:1-9; I Cor. 15:31
C. WHAT A THOUGHT-PROVOKING PRAYER TO MEDITATE UPON
  1. The nature of sin - as David saw it:
    1. Transgression - missing the mark, doing the things that are evil in the sight of the Lord
    2. Iniquity - that which twists, bending- or being deceitful
    3. Sin - transgression of God's law - evil tendencies - bad habits
  2. The nature of being set free from the three evils:
    1. "Blot them out" - remove them from your record - which will appear in the judgment - 2 Cor. 5:10
    2. "Cleanse me from my sin" - use any means you see best to free me from the evil habits that have made a slave out of me - Rom. 6:16; 7:9-17, 26
  3. Dear ones:
    1. Do we view our sinful lives in the light as David did
    2. Are we eager for the Lord to blot out our transgressions? - Acts 3:19-20; Ex. 32:31-33
    3. Do we truly want the Lord to wash us in the blood of His dear Son, who loved us and gave himself for us? - Rev. 1:5
    4. Are we ready for a cleansing from our evil tendencies by whatever the Lord sees best
    5. This may mean for some the furnace of affliction - Is. 48:10; it may mean sorrow in the family - I Peter 4:12
  4. How wonderful it is:
    1. That we have a compassionate God, who loves us and has made a way to free us from all sin
    2. That none need despair in sin, but look to Him who invites a sinful world with these hopeful words, "Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the world" - Is. 45:22
    3. Cried John the Baptist, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world" - John 1:29
  5. And mark it well - prayer, earnest prayer, is the God-chosen channel:
    1. That makes connections with our Redeemer
    2. How untold millions have used this channel to plead with God and were rewarded by a prayer answering God - is this your experience


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