I am fascinated by those shows that show animals catching their prey, especially lions. If you've every watch these programs you know what I mean. Lions do not announce themselves with roars. They are stealth-like, having the ability to make progress towards another animal without being heard or suspected. The other animals know that danger is always around them, but in these moments they have no idea danger is upon them until it is too late. This is exactly how sin operates within us.
One of the things that makes sin sinful is the way in which is lay dormant - unseen and or unfelt - but is, at the same time, very much present, active and near. This is what David learned and, by way of consequence, teaches us with one word: iniquity. Not only does he repent and desire to have his transgressions blotted out (v 1) but he seeks to washed of his iniquity. We see in these two words is connecting layer of sin which makes sin more than just an isolated act. With the use of the term iniquity, we learn that sin is much more internal. There are several ways in which iniquity can be understood.
Iniquity refers to the perversity and depravity that is true of everyone since all, as David admitted, are born in sin (v5). This is often referred to as original sin and is associated with the sin of Adam in the Garden in Genesis 3. All born under Adam - which is everyone - is born under and in slavery to sin. Theologians have deemed this kind of guilt as total depravity. This is what causes every action of sin and since we will never be free of all depravity until Jesus comes, iniquity, in conjunction with the enemy, will lurk like the lion seeking to devour (1st Peter 5:8).
Iniquity is also related to what we feel when we know that our actions have betrayed the Lord. It is the feeling of being caught, exposed or discovered as well as the overwhelming knowledge that the essence of my actions and heart are fully known by the Lord. It is as if the Lord does not simply expose our sin, but He allows us to see it as the evil it truly is and does not let us turn away from that sight until we see it as hideous and worthy of damnation. That is why David said in verse 3: "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me" (Psalm 51:3).
David is teaching us something very important here. We learn that guilt cannot be wished away. This is not the Wizard of Oz where merely wishing one were back home, works! Neither can guilt be worked off. Sometimes, when we are feeling guilty, we think that doing a few reps of godly exercises will take the weight off. Here is my personal PSA: it does not work! I tried it, many times, only to see that my weight (guilt) had increased on the scale of condemnation. The only solution to the guilt within and the guilt I feel is repentance: looking to Jesus and being set free from all guilt that would condemns me.
While guilt causes me to see me in all of my evil without the ability to turn away from it, the powerful and sovereign mercy of the Lord turns my eyes towards Jesus. The Lord leaves my eyes stuck on the gruesomeness of my sin so that, when He turns my eyes to Jesus, I see beauty: like the sunshine that comes after the darkness of a storm. My guilt has caused me to see the compelling beauty of Jesus in ways that I had not seen it before my sin. Guilt, therefore, not only causes me to recognition the weight of my sin. Guilt allows me to bask in the realization of the weight of His glory. The Lord uses our guilt to show His glory, but only when we repent.
David repents because he longs to washed from soul-guilt which keeps producing sin in his life and the consequential guilt that he now feels and knows because of sin. So, he turns to the Lord for a heavenly washing. This is exactly what we need, daily, and it is exactly what Jesus provides every second of every day. This is why John tells us that the solution to holiness is not acting as if we are not capable of sin or like we have never sinned but, rather, to confess our sins:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
It is His faithfulness that is our hope for eternal life not our own faithfulness.
Got guilt? Turn to and give it to the bearer of that guilt: Jesus