"For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great."
Psalm 25:11
Part 3
Yesterday:
“For thy name’s sake.” (b)
God’s reputation is at stake. Life revolves around Him, and not us. He blesses His child “for His name’s sake!” He is the “Most High God!” [1]
Today:
“For thy name’s sake, O LORD…”
“O LORD.”
An honest reading of the Bible will lead the believer to conclude that we are small, needy, and weak people. But, our God is mighty, powerful, and greater than all others! He loves us and meets our needs!
“O LORD.” Jehovah is the self-existent One who needs no one and nothing.
“‘For thy name’s sake, O Lord.’ Here is a blessed, never-failing plea. Not for our sakes or our merits’ sake, but to glorify thy mercy, and to show forth the glory of thy divine attributes” (Spurgeon).
God’s loving care for His child is a beautiful testimony to the glory of His great name.
What an effective way to witness to the lost, just show them how God has changed you and cares for you, His child! Men and women are forever arguing with the Word of God, expressing their disbelief and rebellion as they run from Him. But these reprobates can say nothing about your changed life. They know what you were before God saved you, and they can see the changes in your life since, and they have no argument, for God has changed your life, and you are different now.
As the Pharisees grilled the formerly blind man that He had healed, they claimed that Jesus is a sinner, therefore, He is not God. However, the blind man challenged their thinking when he responded to them.
“He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).
We, believers, can all say, “I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.” They cannot argue with a changed life!
“Pardon mine iniquity.”
Because God is so great, and David knew that he is not, he asked God to do what only God can do, “pardon my iniquity,” — forgive my sin. This ought to be our heart’s cry,
“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake” (Psalm 79:9).
The prophet Isaiah had the right understanding of who Jehovah is when he wrote of Him,
“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).
One of the reasons John wrote his first epistle was to show believers why God has forgiven their sins.
“I write unto you, little children because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake” (1 John 2:12).
A tremendous thought, our God forgives sin! He has forgiven my sin!
David lives a life close to God, but he claims his sin is great. What did he mean, and what does that reveal about us? Come back tomorrow, and let’s talk more.
Quote: “If you are renewed by grace, and were to meet your old self, I am sure you would be very anxious to get out of his company”[2] (Charles Spurgeon).
[1] “Most High God,” is the meaning of the Hebrew name, El Elyon. A study of His personal names is a wonderful benefit to His child.
[2] Spurgeon’s quote Downloaded: Monday, September 28, 2020. From: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/repentance.