The Stain of Sin

Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

    blot out the stain of my sins.

Wash me clean from my guilt.

    Purify me from my sin.

Psalm 51:1-2 (NLT)

 

“Out, damn’d spot,” said Lady Macbeth, while she furiously rubbed her hands as if washing them.

The stain of blood and guilt wracked the consciences of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their desire for more power escalated into murder. Macbeth seized the throne of Scotland after killing King Duncan. And both Macbeth and his wife were left with incessant remorse.

Shakespeare wrote bits of history into his plays. And his characters exuded the human spirit of intellect, emotion, fear, passion, creativity, love, and iniquity. Readers have had no problem relating to various characters in Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. After all, they resemble real people.

The stain Lady Macbeth tried to purge came to mind as I read Psalm 51, David’s psalm of confession and repentance. Honest, gut-wrenching self-analysis had me confessing like David. While I had chosen to diagnose the shortcomings of others, God had pinpointed my personal sin of bitterness. Words of the psalm spoke loud and clear—blot out the stain of my sin. It’s hard to admit to sinning, but being reminded of its stain stung.

King David wrote this psalm after being confronted with his own sin. God had spoken through the prophet Nathan to discipline David, after he had committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). When he completely understood the shame of his sin, David humbly asked God to have mercy on him, a sinner. He repented and asked for removal of the stain of his guilt. “Give me joy again. Create in me a clean heart,” he pleaded to God.

Like David, I began to ask God to remove the stain of my own sin and guilt. Uncovering the offenses of bitterness and malice had stunned me. Those vices belonged to other people, not me. When I finally admitted my misdeeds, I stood ashamed before a holy God. I cried out for His mercy and forgiveness. And my Heavenly Father lavishly gave me those gifts, wrapped in His unfailing love. Encountering the discipline of a loving and gracious Father God freed my soul. I experienced joy.

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

…he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 

Hebrews 12:5b-6, 10b-11 (ESV)

No one wants personal sin exposed. How humiliating. But when God reveals our wrongdoings, it’s humbling. His loving discipline declares His holiness and our sinfulness. When we repent and turn from sin, God has mercy on us and forgives us. He delivers us from evil and creates within us a desire for righteousness. What freedom!

Ever felt guilt from sin? How about its ugly stain? Torment develops in the pit of your stomach. Shame results until an encounter with the liberating discipline of a God who loves you. A captive soul is set free.

The joy of the Lord erases the stain of sin.

6 responses to “The Stain of Sin”

  1. Sharon Weatherspoon Avatar
    Sharon Weatherspoon

    After reading your blog post Romans 12 comes to my mind "…but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…" Thanks be to God for his grace as we go through this life! It’s such a process!

    Romans 12: 1- 21I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

    2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

    3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

    4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

    5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

    6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

    7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

    8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

    9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

    10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

    11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

    12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

    13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

    14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

    15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

    16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

    17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

    18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

    19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

    20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

    21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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    1. Deborah Crawford Avatar
      Deborah Crawford

      Thanks so very much for reading and commenting, dear friend. I value you and your spiritual guidance. What powerful authority in the 12th chapter of Romans. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Annie Yorty Avatar
    Annie Yorty

    Thank you for sharing so personally about how God is dealing with your sin. You’ve given hope and encouragement.

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    1. Deborah Crawford Avatar
      Deborah Crawford

      It is so hard to go public with sin, but He calls us to repent and turn. I find comfort knowing that He disciplines those He loves. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

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  3. Candyce Carden Avatar
    Candyce Carden

    I have felt guilt about sin. Sins that I’ve confessed to God and received His forgiveness for. But still, I’m stained. The guilt I feel has shame and regret mixed in. Thanks for this post. I’m going to work on this.

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    1. Deborah Crawford Avatar
      Deborah Crawford

      I completely understand. And David in Psalm 51 also understood the stain of sin—that nagging guilt. God forgives all when we repent and turn from sin. He loves you and me! Thanks for reading and sharing your heart.

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