The High Price Of Low Practice

A. David's sin wearied him.

Psalms 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

B. David's sin weighted him.

Psalms 38:4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

C. David's sin wounded him.

Psalms 38:5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

David is talking about spiritual gangrene. Sorrow is a clean wound; it will heal. Guilt is a dirty wound; it will only fester until it's cleansed.

D. David's sin worried him.

Psalms 38:6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

E. David's sin wasted him.

Psalms 38:7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

Sin promises much but pays little. God's plan is one man for one woman. God's plan is premarital chastity and post-marital fidelity.

F. David's sin weakened him.

Psalms 38:8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

J. David speaks of himself as being blind, deaf and dumb.

Psalms 38:10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Psalms 38:13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

c. The confession of sin

Proverbs 28:13b "...but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Psalms 51:3 "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight...

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities."

A preacher of the early 1900's said that when he was 12 years old he had killed one of the family geese by throwing a rock and striking it squarely on the head. Figuring his parents wouldn't notice that one of the 24 birds was missing he went out and buried the evidence of his crime. But that evening his sister called him aside and said, "I saw what you did. If you don't offer to do the dishes tonight, I'll tell mother." The next morning she gave him the same warning. All that day and the next she held his guilt over his head and he felt bound to do the dishes. But the following day, however, he surprised his sister by telling her it was her turn. When she quietly reminded him of his guilt and what she could do, he replied, "I've already told mother, and she has forgiven me. Now you do the dishes, I'm free again!"

III. The Forgiveness of the Sovereign v. 9b

a. The consistency of the Sovereign

There are three steps in which God deals with our sin:

1. There is conviction.

God is not trying to get even with us. He is just trying to correct us.

2. There is chastisement.

God is more concerned about your holiness than He is about your health and prosperity. God loves those whom He chastises; He loved David.

3. There is confrontation.

God sent Nathan the prophet to David to confront his sin. God will use His Holy Spirit, His Word, the people in our lives or even a circumstance to confront our sin.