Is this the language of a saint? Was David a saint when he uttered it? Yes, he was a holy man of God: this confession and prayer show it: his heart was not hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, nor blinded by self-righteous pride, so as to say, "I have no sin." Self-righteous hearts cannot consent that all the Lord's saints are yet in themselves miserable sinners; that they see daily need to confess this, and to sue for mercy and. healing from the Lord. Here is a confession, a plea, and a prayer.
A confession –"I have sinned against thee." Thus we must come and confess to the Lord to-day, to-morrow, and every day, till the sun of life sets. Sense of sin, whether now contracted or long since committed, abides with us; it wounds and pains a gracious soul. Here grace discovers itself: that soul waits not for time to efface the memory of sin, nor strives to stifle convictions for it, but goes humbly to the Lord and confesses it, with all its aggravations, and with this above all others, Lord, "against thee have I sinned." O, nay my soul never, never lose this conviction, that every sin is against THEE, my Lord and loving Father; THEE, my Lord and precious Redeemer; THEE, my Lord and gracious Comforter: this makes sin exceeding sinful, while it magnifies the super-abounding riches of grace, in receiving sinners, and in pardoning sin.
Consider the plea: it is not the pharisee's parade: Lord, I have done this and that, or I have done so and so: Lord, I have been faithful to thy grace, I am not so bad as others: no! but it is the publican's plea: "Lord, be merciful to me," to me a vile sinner, who have done nothing to deserve thy favor, yet plead thy mercy promised to sinners in Christ Jesus: thou canst be just anti yet justify the ungodly who believe in Jesus.
Therefore his prayer is, "heal my soul." No prayers, no tears, no duties of mine can heal my soul; no, my best works are stained with pollution, my holiest duties are mixed with sin: nothing but the blood of the Lamb can bring pardon to my heart, peace to my conscience, and healing to my soul. "The Lord will speak peace unto his people and his saints." Psalm 85:8. For, O precious words! he assures us, "all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men." Matt. 12:31.
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