Assessing the Enormity of Sin

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.
Psalms 51:4 (NKJV)

David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. To cover up his sin, the king organized for the killing of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. God sent Prophet Nathan to David and this led to a confession by the latter.

This was the lowest point in David’s life. The son of Jesse was not just another ordinary man. Apart from being king over God’s people, God referred to him as, “a man after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14).

Against You, You only, have I sinned

David wrote profound psalms that inspire people to believe in God and to praise and worship Him. These songs were products of close interaction and communion with God, often in very desperate situations.

That is why Psalms 51 stands out. It is sincere confession by David after his grievous sin. David does not excuse his evil. However, there is an interesting twist in this confession, when David says,
“Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight. That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.” (Psalms 51:4).

Assessing the Enormity of Sin

Did David not sin against Bathsheba, Uriah, the nation and David’s own family? Does he not care about the impact of his sin on these parties? The emphasis in this verse, though, is not accidental. David insists that the person He has hurt is actually God Himself.

While we may not fully understand David’s statement, we know that all sin is essentially against God. Because God created and owns all human beings, when we sin against them, we are committing evil against God Himself.

When we realize that hurting others is hurting God, we will appreciate the enormity of sin and how obnoxious it is before God. Today, meditate on this fact and determine not to hurt other human beings.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, always remind me that sin against other human beings is sin against You.