[12] Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. [13] Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. ~ Psalms 19:12-13
David prays for two kinds of sins to be delivered from. First, he asks God who can know or discern their own šegî•’ā(h). šegî•’ā(h) is a Hebrew word meaning unintentional sin, sin committed out of ignorance. David makes his case before God explaining that how can anyone know the sin that sins that he sins in ignorance? Then he pleads, declare me innocent from nis•tā•rôt’. Hidden things. Things that are kept hidden even from the person who has done them. David pleads with God to not only find him innocent of hidden sins within him, but to declare him innocent so that none can go before the Throne of Grace to use those sins against him.
Then David prays for intentional sins. He refers to them as zē•dîm’. Arrogant, presumptuous sins. Sins that he commits knowingly, willingly in spite of God. He ends that thought with, let them not have dominion over me. See, before the Holy Spirit, before the death and resurrection, we had no fight against sin. Sin had dominion over us. It ruled us like a lord, like a god.
David cried out for mercy. For grace. For forgiveness. And for divine intervention. David was still dwelling in the days of “I do the things I do not want to do, and the things want to do I do not do them.” Sin was his master. Sin was his ring leader. Sin controlled him, so he prayed diligently seeking with all that was within him that the LORD would deliver him from the grip, the chains, the bondage of sin.
Even though sin has been defeated. We have died with Christ to sin. How can pray any less of a prayer? For David had an excuse, we today, do not. We have no excuse. For Jesus has come, suffered, died, resurrected, returned to the Father, and sent His Spirit to dwell with us, in us, and through us. He is interceding on our behalf. How can we expect to pray any less than David?
Dear LORD, thank You that You are a loving God. Slow to anger. Quick to forgive. Merciful with grace that is for anyone willing to accept it. LORD, please forgive me for each and every sin I have committed. Forgive me for the sins I committed in ignorance. The sins I committed without knowledge or understanding. Open my eyes to those sins, LORD, that I might not commit them again. That they might not take hold of me. LORD, please forgive me for the sins I have committed knowingly, willingly, presumptuously, and arrogantly. Sins that I knew better yet I gave in anyway. Sins that I ran to and made a way to take place. Sins I pondered on and sought out. Sins that have a stronghold in my life. LORD, break those strongholds from off of me. Rescue me from my own flesh LORD. Deliver me from spiritual bondage and oppression. Let not any evil spirits find doorways into my life through my flesh. Help me LORD to crucify my flesh. Help me to break free from these sins that have a foothold in my life. Deliver me, oh God, like only you can. Deliver me, LORD Jesus. Save me from myself. Give me the strength, determination, wisdom, and self-control to overcome in Your name. Leave me not to my own devices, but deliver me, LORD. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.