“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see…”
The words of this beautiful hymn came to mind this morning as I read the words of repentance from the psalmist David. I understood his words of regret and celebrated with him the joy of salvation. It is good for me to stop and consider what a great and merciful God we serve, full of grace and love. That He would send His Son, that Jesus would die for our sins, it is too big for me to completely wrap my mind around but I feel the emotion of it and I thank God for the salvation He have given me.
My guilt overwhelms me – it is a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins.
I am bent over and racked with pain.
All day long I walk around filled with grief.
A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken.
I am exhausted and completely crushed.
My groans come from an anguished heart.
You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh. – Psalm 38:4-9
But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done…
Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior. – Psalm 38:18,21-22
“Oh Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.” – Psalm 41:4
I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.”
But as I stood there in silence – not even speaking of good things –
the turmoil within me grew worse.
The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” – Psalm 39:1-5
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Finally I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. – Psalm 32:1-7
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them. – Psalm 40:1-5