SECRET SINS (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 5/6/25

“Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.” (Psalm 19:12)

The Psalmist here compares the glory of God’s law to that of the heavens. Both were created by God and are reflections of His being. Both are universal in scope and boundless and amazingly complex. Both declare the glory of God! However, the law of the Lord is superior in that it can convert the soul. The heavens declare the glory of God, and along with the witness of the whole of creation leave mankind “without excuse,” but faith comes by the hearing of God’s Word.

David completes his survey of God’s law by a humble realization: “Who can understand his errors?” This is followed by a confession of sin: “Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” Then finally he makes a sincere appeal for prevenient grace: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins.”

The more we know of God and the nearer we draw to him, the more we are saved from self-righteousness, and the more conscious we are of our own sin - not someone else’s sins, as a self-righteous person is prone to be. So, let us focus on David’s chief concern, and that which should be ours - secret sins.

The foolishness of secret sins should be obvious for numerous reasons. First, the outward appearance of godliness is not enough. God sees into the heart where sins originate. Men may be impressed with a mere show of religion, but in the Lord’s eyes the Pharisees were the most obnoxious of all people, because they, like whited sepulchers, while whitewashed on the outside, were corrupt on the inside. Secondly, the concept of secret sins is foolish because with the all-seeing God there is no such thing as a secret sin. Thirdly, secret sins will surely be exposed, if not before, they will be unveiled in that day when all hearts shall be made manifest.

Secret sins bring great misery. To hide sin is our natural depraved inclination, yet what keen misery this produces within. This includes not only the fear of being found out, but the misery of inner guilt. There is a certain sense of self-hatred that comes with the realization that one is not what he would appear to be. To live under the condemnation of one’s own heart is indeed a state of misery. What sweet relief open confession and forgiveness can bring!

Secret sins carry with them a most solemn guilt. This is contrary to our common way of thinking about sin, that guilt comes with getting caught. But secret sins carry with them the guilt of practical atheism. All sin is against God first and foremost. To sin in secret, as if no one sees, is a practical denial of God Himself, Who sees all. There is also the guilt of multiplied sins. David’s own example is proof of this very thing. Secret sin engenders more sin. David, in order to keep his adultery secret, lied and schemed and ended up becoming a murderer. “Whoso covereth his sin shall not prosper.”

Secret sins are especially dangerous. There is the danger of public disclosure and the shame and disgrace that comes as a result. There is the danger of the heart becoming hardened. Sin that is unconfessed and undiscovered can sear the conscience and harden the heart. For the Christian there is the danger of the loss of power and joy in the Lord. Finally, there is the danger of hell for the unconverted.

Let us all join the psalmist in confession and appeal: “Cleanse thou me from secret faults.”