Big and Bigger – Encouragement from Psalm 25

First, when David asked, “For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great,” we see a strong expression of humility. He expected pardon for God’s sake, not his own. He humbly recognized the greatness of his own iniquity.

As pastors, preachers, and Bible teachers we need to speak of sin. But when we speak of sin and of sinners, it’s not “they,” it’s “us.” We are sinners, just like the people we speak to. It can be said that like David, our sin is great.

– Our sin is great when we consider against Whom it is committed: the God of all glory.
– Our sin is great when we consider that it is against a just and fair law.
– Our sin is great when we consider it is committed by those who are made in the image of God.
– Our sin is great when we consider the amount of our sin.

Second, notice David’s strange (but true) spiritual logic: pardon my iniquity, for it is great. We can only imagine a criminal in a court of law appealing to the judge on this basis. “Your honor, find me not guilty, because my crimes have been many and large.”

David seemed to know the freedom and peace that comes from saying, “Lord, I know that I am a great sinner; but You are an even greater Savior. I humbly submit myself to You and ask you to pardon my iniquity.”

We need to preach the big reality of sin, and the even bigger reality of the God who pardons sin. We need to preach it to ourself before we ever preach it to anyone else.

Blessings to you in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik