They are a warning to your servant,
    a great reward for those who obey them.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.

Psalm 19: 11-13

Asking for another opinion is often helpful. Years ago I was asked to have three different people complete a survey regarding my personality and behavior in my interactions with each of these individuals. It was quite eye opening and revealed some things I was not aware of at the time.

These three people did what I couldn’t do on my own – they provided a different perspective I wouldn’t be able to see on my own, because I am often oblivious to my own faults.

In the passage above, David invites the LORD to reveal his sins “lurking” in his heart. I am reminded of God’s warning to Cain – “if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master (Genesis 4:7).”

Next David requests to be cleansed from all those hidden faults. Hidden to David, but apparent to others and certainly apparent to the LORD.

Finally, David asks that God keep him from the sins he is aware of – “deliberate sins.” I wrote recently about besetting sins, the sins that seem to linger, sins that present an ongoing battle. We all have something that has at least in the past, presented an ongoing problem.

What then is the result of David’s petition? Freedom from guilt and innocence before God.