These verses paint a busy scene that morphs as I ponder it. What would it look like to stand for three hours as the Law is read and then for three more while people confess sins and worship God? When I first entered this scene, I was on the perimeter looking inward at all the activities. Then, I became curious and moved closer. Now, I feel the excitement of worship rising as the freedom of forgiveness replaces the weight of sin, and I want to be a part of this scene! Have you ever stood for hours while listening to Scripture, then confessing your sins aloud to a community of believers and ending in complete worship? I have never fully experienced anything like this scene!

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These Israelites were assembled to fast and pray over their sins against God and their neglect of His Law. After years of exile and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, they were no longer in exile; the Temple was rebuilt, and the wall that secured Jerusalem was rebuilt. Now, the Jews were gathered to rebuild the people through listening to the Law, confessing their sins, and worshipping. They were humbly repenting from their disobedience to God and the realization of God’s faithfulness to them. It seems they were feeling the healing cleanse of forgiveness as they confessed and worshiped.  

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Can confessing sin feel like healing? I believe so and recently felt it through an honest mistake. I committed myself to two different events at the same time without realizing it until just a few hours before the conflict. One event was a recurring commitment, and the other was a special occasion to support a friend. I had a choice to make. One choice was to simply follow through with one of them without any explanation to the one I ignored, which is where I sinned - I thought about it!  

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My sin was in being deliberately presumptuous (Ps. 19:13) by willingly and intentionally pushing the limits of courtesy, politeness, and respect. The other choice was to share my mistake with all that were affected and pray for a solution. I chose to confess and pray! I was graciously released by team leaders from the recurring commitment. Then, God answered my prayer by quickly providing volunteers at the last minute to fill in for me. I was free to be completely present for my friend, and I felt completely forgiven and cleansed, like I John 1:9 tells us. Now, I was worshipping God! My confession to three people was cleansing, and He rescued me.  

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Confession should be a regular occurrence for believers. Have you ever confessed a sin out loud to another human? You do not necessarily need to step before a crowd of people or anyone that you do not know. Just find a trusted friend or mentor who is a believer, like it says in James 5:16. The spiritual growth that happens through confession can become a catalyst for continual growth. Confessing sin aloud takes away much of the power it has over us. It also makes sin more real to us, so we turn from it. My sins certainly became a lot more real to me when I started to practice sincere confession, and I felt changes within me.  

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Deep renewal and growth require constant, honest confession. If you do not have a trusted friend, know that ACF’s prayer team is always available during all services in the back of the room, where there is privacy and trusted people willing to talk and pray with you. Soon, you can be worshipping God with the weight of sin gone!

Charles Spurgeon wrote,  

“Repentance grows as faith grows. Do not make any mistake about it; repentance is not a thing of days and weeks, a temporary penance to be got over as fast as possible! No; it is the grace of a lifetime, like faith itself. God's little children repent, and so do the young men and the fathers. Repentance is the inseparable companion of faith.”  

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Confession brings about growing faith, which I think we all want!  

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David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24 is one of my favorites. Let’s pray this aloud together.  

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT)

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We love you, Abba. Amen.