How Will I Ever Be Blameless?
Almost three weeks ago I decided to start reading through the Psalms again. It started because I was having trouble staying focused during my morning prayer time and I thought reading a Psalm at the beginning of the prayer time would help me focus better. It definitely has done that, but even more wonderful is that I have been finding verses in the Psalms that are speaking to me in ways they haven’t before. God’s Word is definitely living and active (see Hebrews 4:12).
Today I was reading Psalm 19. I came across two verses I was compelled to reread several times. I even looked them up in several translations. What I saw in these two simple verses was the Gospel of Christ, written down by King David hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth as a man. I saw in these two wonderful verses the only way I can be found blameless before God. This is what I read:
Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Psalm 19:12-13 (NASB).
We all have hidden faults, sins we fail to recognize in ourselves. But if we recognize this very fact and ask God for forgiveness for those sins, He is faithful to forgive us.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, God will also help us to keep ourselves from committing “presumptuous sins.” Other translations of this verse use the word “willful” or “intentional” instead of “presumptuous.” But I liked this translation best because the word presumptuous has to do with pride. And only God can keep us from our own pride and work in our hearts the humility He desires.
We cannot be found blameless by our own efforts. We cannot even understand the depth of our own need for forgiveness by ourselves. Without God, we are unable to keep ourselves from further transgressions.
But here is the Gospel: If we recognize our own sinfulness, and trust in God to forgive us of our sins and keep us from sin, then we will be found blameless and acquitted of our transgressions.
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1. He takes occasion hence to make a penitent reflection upon his sins; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. “Is the commandment thus holy, just, and good? Then who can understand his errors? I cannot, whoever can.” From the rectitude of the divine law he learns to call his sins his errors. If the commandment be true and righteous, every transgressions of the commandment is an error, as grounded upon a mistake; every wicked practice takes rise from some corrupt principle; it is a deviation from the rule we are to work by, the way we are to walk in. From the extent, the strictness, and spiritual nature, of the divine law he learns that his sins are so many that he cannot understand the number of them, and so exceedingly sinful that he cannot understand the heinousness and malignity of them. We are guilty of many sins which, through our carelessness and partiality to ourselves, we are not aware of; many we have been guilty of which we have forgotten; so that, when we have been ever so particular in the confession of sin, we must conclude with an et cetera-and such like; for God knows a great deal more evil of us than we do of ourselves. In many things we all offend, and who can tell how often he offends? It is well that we are under grace, and not under the law, else we were undone.
Thank you so much for sharing what you found! What a comfort to know there is a way, through Jesus! God bless you!
Deb, It is a comfort to know Jesus has made a way. There is such peace in knowing Him. 🙂 Peace, Linda
This is a beautiful post, Linda. Psalm 19 was a family memory project a while back and the verses you cited also impacted me. Your conclusions here concerning blamelessness /are spot on.
If we recognize our own sinfulness, and trust in God to forgive us of our sins and keep us from sin, then we will be found blameless and acquitted of our transgressions.
Amen!
Heather, Thanks! I just love when I find this truth stated so clearly in the Old Testament. It’s a great reminder that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 🙂 Peace, Linda