October 2

Proverbs 28.13-14

¹³ Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

¹⁴ Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

There is a strange thing some pet owners will do.  Their dog has done something wrong, maybe chewed up a shoe, and they go to the dog and ask, “What did you do?”  I would love for the dog to sit up like Balaam’s donkey and give and explanation.  But they usually sit there and either look confused, or they show something akin to shame.  The event that will never take place is for the dog to greet you at the door and say, “Sorry, I got bored while you were out and ruined your favourite shoes.”  They’re dogs, they simply say, “Woof”.

As people, we have a higher level of intelligence, hopefully.  A better understanding of self.  And when we have done wrong we do need to come to someone and say what we have done.  We confess what we have done wrong.  Solomon gives us that picture today.  Not a picture filled with punishment for what we did wrong.  An image of mercy as we come in confession.  A greater mercy than any of us would have for the dog who ate the shoe.  Confession is our part.  Mercy is God’s part.  And the two go hand in hand.

Solomon does not place them in an order of the actions.  Simply that as we confess we find God’s mercy.  We actually find that God’s mercy was there all along.  It is in our confession that we are able to recognize it.  God has brought forgiveness.  Now we are able to understand it and receive it.  We let go of the guilt and sin that God has forgiven in his grace.

Come to God in prayer and leave our sins at his feet.  Place them there and receive his grace.  See the wholeness he is restoring in us as we let go of the shame, the sin, the guilt.  Come to God in prayer and receive grace and forgiveness.

Song – Lord, I Need You

Prayer

Creator God, the earth is full of the creatures you have made.  In your wisdom you made each of us and have put us in place to care for each other and the world in which we live.  But we have gone our own ways.  We have become selfish and self-centered.  We have broken your patterns of living that you have graciously given to us.  Forgive us for our brokenness and sin.  Restore us to your ways and to your righteousness.  Amen.