He who covers his sins will not prosper,

.... but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy (Proverbs 28:13).  There are multitudes of ways that we cover,  or try to hide our sin, and the wrong we have done. We can deny that it's sin, we can suppress the feelings of guilt and shame.  We can blame others, “You made me do it!”  One way that combines some of the above  is to blame others for the guilt we are feeling, or to accuse them of hate,  or fear,  or of laying guilt trips. I'm not saying that these things don't exist independently of right or wrong, for they do! The proverb declares however that the one who covers his sin will not prosper.

There is a recovery saying that goes along with this principle, and it is that “you are only as sick as your secrets.” The negative physical, mental and emotional effects of guilt and shame are well documented in modern research.  As with many of these things, the Bible got there first.  For example David cried out “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long”  (Psalm 32:3).  Though the research is not saying that guilt and shame are the only things that cause the following list, they  certainly play a role.  When I googled “health effects of guilt,” the list  included bipolar disorder, depression,  hopelessness, feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem. I quote “when you have an inordinate feeling of guilt, your mind begins to sabotage itself with negative, unrealistic, and dark thoughts.” The phrase “will not prosper” certainly seems to fit the bill here! And this is not to even mention substance abuse,  and the many ways we  mitigate the pain of our guilt.

Every attempt of man to cover his sin is futile, fig leaves certainly don't cut it, neither do any of the things in the above mentioned list. There is  however, a cure for guilt. David cries out “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered (Psalm 32:1; Romans 4:7). In other words, the cure for guilt is to be forgiven by the only One who has the authority to forgive us and against whom  ultimately He and He alone we have sinned (Psalm 51:??). This forgiveness is costly, for a Holy God must punish sin.  And He did it by laying iniquity of us all on Him (Isaiah 53:??). It was  He Himself who “bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” He did it with  the expectation “that we, having died to sins, might live for  righteousness (1 Peter  2:24), and that we should live no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:15).  And this is precisely what it means to “confesses and forsake” our sins, and this repentance is the precondition for mercy (see this morning's verse).

Father, part of this Biblical command to confess and forsake our sin is where appropriate to make restitution, to pay back when possible what we have taken. And it was always more than was taken (i.e. Numbers  5:7).  Restitution is not always possible of course, and though You take away the eternal penalty for sin, You often leave us with the here and now consequences!  Give us the grace to bear these things Lord,  and to never take Your mercy for granted. Help us to live day by day for You,  and we will give you the glory in Jesus name Amen