Psalms 38:17-22: a reflection

In this psalm of distress, the psalmist does two things together: he confesses his sin honestly, and he pleads for God's help and nearness. I will declare my iniquity, he says; I will be sorry for my sin. He does not hide his sin or excuse it; he confesses it. And in the same breath, surrounded by enemies and in pain, he cries: Don't forsake me, LORD; my God, don't be far from me; hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation. Honest confession of sin, and an urgent plea for God's nearness and help, are held together.

Notice how the psalmist holds together confession and a plea for help. He does not let his sin drive him from God, nor does he pretend he has no sin; he confesses it honestly, and then clings to God, pleading for his nearness and help. His awareness of his sin does not make him hide from God; it drives him to God, confessing and pleading in the same breath. He owns his sin, and asks God not to forsake him, not to be far from him, to hurry to help him. Confession and clinging to God go together.

That holding together is worth taking to heart, for we can let our sin drive us away from God rather than toward him. When we are aware of our sin, we can feel we must hide from God, or that we have no right to ask his help; but the psalmist confessed his sin and clung to God in the same breath, pleading for his nearness. Do not let your sin drive you away from God; confess it honestly, and in the same breath cling to God, pleading for his nearness and help, as the psalmist did. Your awareness of sin need not keep you from God; let it drive you to him, confessing and clinging together. Bring your sin honestly to God in confession, and in the same breath plead for his nearness and help, as the psalmist declared his iniquity and cried, don't forsake me, LORD; hurry to help me; for confession and clinging to God belong together, and our sin should drive us to him, not from him.