My Sin Is Always Before Me

(Psalm 51:3)

Mike Johnson

The writer of Psalm 51 expresses great sorrow for his sins.  Most agree that David is the author, and he wrote it after his sin with Bathsheba.  In 2 Samuel 11-12, we learn that David committed adultery, and then he committed murder trying to conceal what he had done.  Confronted by Nathan, a prophet of God, he admitted his wrongdoing, and in the Psalm, he appeals to the mercy of God and asks for forgiveness.

In verse 3, after acknowledging his transgressions, he said, “… my sin is always before me.”  David knew God granted his forgiveness, but he would not forget his awful deeds.  He would always carry a picture in his mind of murder and adultery.  Although forgiven, he still had to face earthly consequences for his sin.

Consider the apostle Paul who had persecuted Christians before becoming a Christian.  God forgave him, but no doubt, his sins were always before him.  Note what he said in 1 Timothy 1:13-15, “although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”  Like David, because of God’s mercy, he received forgiveness.  But clearly, he never forgot his past.

Consider the following story:

“Years ago, a father tried to teach his son how wrong sin was.  Every time the boy did wrong, the father nailed a nail into the tree in the backyard.  After several months, the boy was brokenhearted over all the nails in the tree.  He asked his father if he would take a nail out of the tree for every time he behaved.  The dad agreed.  Finally, the day came when the last nail was removed.  The son thought he would be excited; instead, he became sad.  Though all the nails were out, the scars and holes remained.  Though a person becomes a Christian, the scars of sin remain.” (Author Unknown)

Indeed, sin scars.  It can even have long-lasting earthly consequences, which would be one reason to avoid it.   One way to prevent these scars is by staying away from sin.

Although it may be difficult to forget our past, we must never forget that God loves us and will forgive us if we comply with his conditions.  Further, we should never let the past hold us back from faithfully serving God.   We learn from the past, but having received forgiveness, we press forward with joy and confidence.  Note Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”