One acknowledged truth in our world is that we are all sinners by nature and by choice. The Bible states that “there is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10) and that “we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and purpose for us” (Romans 3:23). But how does sin affect us? The Bible teaches that if we don’t turn from our sins we face spiritual and eternal death at the end of our lives (Romans 6:23). But I’m asking, “How does sin affect the person who is indeed a Christian, but who has chosen to disobey the Lord in some way in their life?” The following passage of Scripture gives us some insight in how to answer that question.

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds – they haunt me day and night. Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just.” (Psalm 51:1-4 NLT)

The above passage includes the beginning verses in King David’s great prayer of repentance to the Lord. David was praying this in response to the conviction he had regarding his sin against others and his sin against the Lord. We learn in 2 Samuel 11 that David had committed adultery with a married woman named Bathsheba, and when he discovered she was pregnant with his child, he had her husband Uriah killed in battle. David thought that he had gotten away with his sin, but the Bible says that “the Lord was very displeased with what David had done” (2 Samuel 11:27).

If anyone could have gotten away with this type of action, it should have been a king. But God sent his prophet Nathan to confront King David. Nathan identified David’s sin, told him that the child Bathsheba was carrying would soon die, and told him that David’s family would suffer greatly because of his sin. The predictions of Nathan came to fruition, and left David a broken man because of his sin, and the consequences of that sin. In Psalm 38 and Psalm 32:1-5, David relates the conviction and burden that he was experiencing because of his sin.

Having been broken by his sin and its consequences, David confesses to the Lord in Psalm 51. He writes in verse three that sin dominates our minds – “for I recognize my shameful deeds – they haunt me day and night.” Every day and every night David had to reflect on the fact that he had committed adultery with another man’s wife, and then had that good and loyal man murdered. He couldn’t get away from the guilt of what he had done. Sin also dirties our soul, which is why in verse seven David wrote, “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” David felt dirty and unclean because of what he did, and either consciously or subconsciously we feel the same way when there is un-confessed sin in our lives. Sin deprives us of joy, which is why David wrote in verse eight: “Give me back my joy again; You have broken me, now let me rejoice.” Un-confessed sin in our lives robs our joy and peace and leaves us broken and sad (Psalm 32:1-5). Sin also causes us shame, which is why David wrote in verse nine: “Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.”

Sin in our lives also causes us to have “wrong spirits” or attitudes (Psalm 51:10). When Nathan confronted David, he did so by telling David a story of how a wealthy man had taken a poor man’s pet sheep and used it for a barbecue. David rose up in indignation, declaring that the wealthy man should probably die, and would at least have to pay the poor man back four-fold. Nathan then responded to David’s indignation by declaring, “You are the man.” Think about David’s response. It was one thing to steal and kill another man’s sheep, but it was a far greater sin to steal another man’s wife, and then have that man murdered. What does David’s response show us? It shows us that oftentimes the people who are most critical of others have “wrong attitudes” and are themselves covering up sin.

In Psalm 51:11, David reminded us that sin in our lives separates us from God’s presence, and in Psalm 51:4 he reminded us that sin in our lives dishonors the Lord. When we think about the consequences of sin, it should give us a hatred for sin and a determination to become godlier by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us.

The main point in Psalm 51, however, is that David recognized his sin, became convicted about that sin, repented of that sin, and was restored in His relationship with the Lord. Psalm 32 and Psalm 34 record David’s feelings of relief and joy when he repented and returned to the Lord. And the good news is, although we are all sinners and will continue to sin, we also can experienced the Lord’s forgiveness, freedom and fulfillment when we get things right with God.

Any thoughts or comments?