The phrase ‘keeping short accounts’ refers to debts paid off as soon as possible after they incur. While the company or person I owe money to might give me thirty days to settle my bill, this does not work well when it comes to confessing sin.
Last night I had a vivid dream that showed a document much like a calendar. Every time I or others around me did something, our motivations showed up in a box. If we asked God to guide us and followed His will, the box was blank. If we didn’t do that, the box was filled with sinful thoughts and plans.
This dream was timely as I look at the link between confession and prayer. Daniel is the example:
I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments . . . . While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. (Daniel 9:4; 20–23)
Had Daniel not humbled himself and acknowledged that God had every right to chasten sin, Gabriel must first address that rather than give him the insight he needed.
Sometimes people say that was the OT, but the NT shows the loving and gracious side of God. While He only chastened the religious leaders and not the tax collectors and prostitutes, there is a difference between these two groups. The religious leaders did not acknowledge their sin and the ‘sinners’ of those days contrasted them by not being smugly self-righteous. Proverbs 3:34 says, “Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.”
We who know the Lord can forget that He hates sin. We need to often hear the gospel. God takes sin seriously; He became a man and died for it. If I am in sin and praying for the needs of others, God will deal with my sin before He answers my prayers — something like the little child with muddy hands asking for a cookie — and dad tells her to go wash first.
As MacArthur points out, confessing sin acknowledges that God has every right to punish or chasten sin. What kind of reputation would it give God if He merely looked the other way when His people are disobedient and refuse to repent? He is not like a human father too occupied with other things to pay attention to the disobedient behavior of his own children (see Hebrews 12:5-13).
Besides that, obeying Him is for our good — that we might have the abundant life Jesus promised:
And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:24–25)
I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. (Jeremiah 32:39)
Faith believes God is good, even that His chastening is good. The NT says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Confession therefore serves a dual purpose: it brings forgiveness, and it frees God to chasten us without bringing accusations of unfairness or injustice upon Himself. He is not a poor Father.
While some sin is ugly and repulsive, some sin appears lovely and desirable. My view of God’s reasons for instructing me is important, especially when it comes to resisting the ‘lovely’ temptations that seem okay, desirable, even good for me. He can see the outcome of sin. It “leads to death” and His love most certainly does not want an untimely end for His children. Confession of sin and turning another way puts me on a better path!
Lord Jesus, I’ve always had vivid dreams, sometimes long and complex, sometimes distressing. I’ve been asking You to instruct me in my dreams and am amazed how You tie a dream to the next morning’s devotional reading. Thank You for wanting the best for me and for giving me ammunition to fight those seemingly harmless temptations. You are a most marvelous Savior!
MORE: Read about David’s sin in 2 Samuel 11:1–12:25 and his confession in Psalm 51. What are the similarities and differences between David’s confession and Daniel’s?
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