Seeking Relief from Judgment

Scripture:
Let those who seek to take my life
be disgraced and confounded.
Let those who wish me harm
be driven back and humiliated.
Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
be horrified because of their shame.
Psalm 40:14-15

Observation: As the writer confesses his many sins and seeks forgiveness from God, he also seeks protection from those who would judge him. These people are described by their actions - the seek to harm the writer and take his life. However, they also verbally call out his mistakes. They say "aha!" when he messes up ... or in today's language, they say, "there was your mistake, see what you did?!"

The writer seeks compassion from God. At the same time, he seeks the Lord's protection from people who judge him. The challenges are the same. On one hand, he is guilty and ashamed of his sin, and wishes forgiveness. However, he also wishes to put the sin behind him, and he can't do that when others are always calling it out and reminding him of it ... when the sin is thrown back upon him daily instead of being allowed to fall behind him.

Application: I know I sin, and I seek forgiveness regularly. I do often need my feet re-washed by God's love. However, I too fear the opinions of others about my past. I treated others poorly when I was young, and was an open sinner. There are many people who simply know me as "that" person. I don't associated with most of those people any more. But I often worry that someone will pop up and accuse me of my past ... and I have no defense other than to say that I am no longer that person.

Prayer: Lord, please do protect me from the accusations of my past. You know I am not longer that man. Even when evil thoughts and sins come to me now, they are nothing compared to the past, and I regret and seek to repent of them daily. Please continue to help me, and please do forgive me of my sins. I put you and your ways first in my life. I ask that my past be long gone, removed, erased, and forgotten. Amen.