Confession of sin.
Let men argue as they please against the Bible; they cannot deny or alter the fact that this book has a power of laying hold on the heart and conscience, unrivalled and unique. One reason is its penetrating knowledge of human nature; another, its deep and wide sympathy. Oar interest is quickened, sympathy roused, because we are presented, not with abstract truth, dry dogma, but with living experience. Conscience can be impartial, judgment cool, because it is another's case, not our own, we contemplate. Suddenly, when we thought we were looking at a picture, we find it is a mirror. The still small voice says, "Thou art the man!"
I. A BURDENED SPIRIT HIDING ITSELF BEHIND DUMB LIPS. David "kept silence" would not acknowledge his sins even to himself, therefore, of course, not to God. Forget them, he could not. But he excused them—laid the blame (as we so easily do) on temptation and circumstance and nature. Besides, was a king to be bound within as strict limits as an ordinary person? Had not his blackest crime—the murder of his brave, faithful general—been in a manner forced on him? He "kept silence" before others,—perhaps was specially exemplary in public worship and pious ceremony; "kept silence" before God.—perhaps keeping up rigidly the form of prayer, but, through his lips prayed, his heart was numb. Wonderful is the deceitfulness of sin; the self-ignorance into which it betrays us. (James 1:14, James 1:15.)!
II. THE BROKEN HEART AND CONTRITE SPIRIT POURING OUT ITS PENITENT CONFESSION TO GOD. As long as David "kept silence," the Lord had a controversy with him. His "hand was heavy." Possibly in some stroke of sickness; perhaps only in the bodily disorder which springs from mental suffering. The ghastly secret refused to be buried in silence and oblivion. The burden grew intolerable. At last he said, "I will confess my transgressions."
1. To his own conscience. "The first step is the hardest;" and perhaps the hardest thing in frank confession is to acknowledge sin to one's self. It is easy to say, "We have erred and strayed," when everybody else says so; quite another thing to say, in the lonely Silence of your own thought, "I am wrong." No one likes that. No one ought to like it. But it has to be done, or confession to God—or to man—is a vain form.
2. What next? The carrying out of the purpose; the soul alone with God, saying, "Father, I have sinned!" Many a man blames himself inwardly, bitterly, proudly; but it leads to nothing. He does not acknowledge his sin to God. Here are three words which give three views of sin.
3. Transgression: breaking away, viz. from obedience to God's Law; rebellion. (In Psalms 32:1, Psalms 32:2 same words in different order.)
III. THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND INFINITE COMFORT FOUND IN TURNING TO GOD. The guilty silence is broken. The veil of self-delusion is rent off. The sinner takes his right attitude, his true position before God. Not the same as though he had not sinned,—that is impossible; but that which belongs to him in fact. There is a dawn of comfort in this. At least we have done with falsehood, come on to the firm ground of truth. But the only real comfort is, not in our penitence, but in God's promises. Confession and repentance do not lay the ground of forgiveness, or of the hope and certainty of it. God has laid that (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). The name of God is significant here: not "God" the Almighty Creator, but, "the Lord," i.e. Jehovah—God's covenant name with Israel. Nature holds out no inducement to confess sin, no hope of pardon. Its law is, "Reap what you have sown." If the ground of acceptance were our repentance, we never could be assured that it was adequate. But God's faithfulness and justice are pledged to grant what his love has already provided in the gift of his Son (1 John 1:9). Confession is just the breaking down of the barrier raised, not by our sin, but by impenitence and unbelief; at once the stream of Divine mercy flows unhindered, "Thou forgavest," etc.
Conclusion. This experience was too exemplary, too instructive, too precious, to be permitted to perish in forgetfulness. The Holy Spirit (as we said) does not merely paint a picture, but holds up a mirror. David's experience may be ours.