“Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14 (KJV)
Most of us can repeat the last verse of this Psalm by memory, but few understand the intent behind it. It is a repentance passage. Let us note the flow of this Psalm.
Verses 1-6 acknowledges God. The Psalmist asserts that the knowledge of God cannot be denied since it is flashed before all people and nations.
Verses 7-10 acknowledges that the laws of God are “perfect” and “to be desired more than gold.”
Verse 11 acknowledges that God’s laws warn us and protect us.
That brings us to our text verses. After acknowledging God and his laws as perfect and proper to obey, what can one say? It is only left to acknowledge one’s own lack of self-knowledge. And ask God to cleanse us and deliver us and set us free.
Because those who so acknowledge God and his law desire their words and thoughts to be acceptable to him.
Dear Father, truly we do want our words and thoughts to be acceptable to you. With the Psalmist we ask that you cleanse us, deliver us, and set us free through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. AMEN
Be encouraged today as you acknowledge God,