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Pastor Joel Webbon preaches on the true nature of confession and the biblical characteristics of “godly sorrow” from Psalm 51:8-17. The contrite man does not merely ask for forgiveness, he asks to be changed.

Pastor Joel Webbon preaches on the true nature of confession and the biblical characteristics of “godly sorrow” from Psalm 51:1-5.

Whether our source of hardship be from without or within, the Lord is a “refuge” to all those who seek shelter in him. God is not merely our hope of future deliverance from every kind of “trouble,” but he is also our source of “present help.” He presently helps his people by equipping and empowering them to bear any kind of trouble they may find. It is for this reason that “the righteous are as bold as lions” in the face of all uncertainty and disaster, knowing that God is sovereign over both good and evil. For as the prophet says, “Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?” (Amos 3:6). Kingdoms, nations, and all the inhabitants of the earth will come and go. Even if the “earth [itself] gives way” by wars or natural desolations, we possess an unshakable refuge in our God.

In Psalm 43, David pleads with God to deliver him from the hands of those mistreating him, but not before first submitting himself to be examined by God. John Calvin once said, “It is vain for us to expect that God will avenge the injuries and wrongs which are done to us, unless our own integrity be so manifest as to induce him to be favorable to us against our adversaries.” Similarly, Proverbs 24:17-18 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.” In other words, our diligence to uphold our integrity in the midst of mistreatment is a major determining factor for whether or not God will choose to vindicate us.

David’s enemies constantly reminded him of his failures and God's apparent absence. However, David combats this constant assault by reminding himself of his past moments in the presence of God. David's fondest memories of the presence of God are when he was surrounded by the people of God. David remembers the “throng” of worshipers and the “multitude keeping festival.” David recognizes what many Christians in our age do not, namely, that the sweetest times in the presence of God our not found in private devotion, but in public worship.

Whether on the run from King Saul or his son Absalom, David has been effectively cut off the land of Israel, and most significantly, the Tabernacle. Therefore, the psalmist is deprived of the praise of God, the people of God, and the presence of God. He is consumed by a desperate, and even violent, thirst for the pleasure and privilege of the presence of God in public worship. David longs to appear before God.

Psalm 37:6 provides a wonderful promise: “[God] will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” In other words, those who act with integrity will eventually be vindicated, in this life or the next. Their righteousness will be revealed before both God and men. Therefore, we must diligently obey as we wait upon the Lord. This commandment is stated a final time in Psalm 37:7: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”

The battle belongs to the Lord. God is sovereignly orchestrating all things in accordance with his good pleasure. Our only responsibility is to simply wait upon the Lord. We must wait humbly, quietly, obediently, and expectantly.

Many Christians, and even pastors, go to great lengths to conceal and minimize their sin. But a refusal to confess our sins produces only misery and heartache. It causes us to fall under the fatherly displeasure of God. Therefore, Christians should run to God quickly and fully.

Pastor Connor Hensley, a lay elder at Covenant Bible Church preaches from Psalm 25.