The Sin Of A Schoolboy

Psalm 25:7-13

7Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth;

look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, O LORD.

8The LORD is good and does what is right;

he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

9He leads the humble in what is right,

teaching them his way.

10The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness

all those who keep his covenant and obey his decrees.

11For the honor of your name, O LORD,

forgive my many, many sins.

12Who are those who fear the LORD?

He will show them the path they should choose.

13They will live in prosperity,

and their children will inherit the Promised Land.

The date will not be forgotten. On July 5, 1800, a schoolboy found himself locked inside Westminster Abbey in London. In the night he made his way to the hallowed Coronation Chair, where English kings and queens are crowned. In that chair he fell asleep. In the morning when he awoke, he took out his pocket knife and carved the following inscription into the solid oak seat of the chair: “F Abbot slept in this chair July 5, 1800.”

No doubt other youths have committed more heinous crimes, but few have so indelibly etched a record of their sin as did F. Abbot.

In this psalm the major theme is divine guidance, but a secondary theme is a plea for forgiveness from the sins of one’s past (verses 7, 11, 18). David knows that in order to walk in right paths, he must seek to put away his sinful ways. And we can see from this psalm that he knows that God will forgive his sins if he asks him to.

We, too, need to be forgiven of our sins, which have been etched upon our heart like the sin of F. Abbot. Through Christ comes forgiveness for all who are ashamed of their sins. “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong” (1 John 1:9).

Your many sins are all forgiven;

Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;

Go on your way in peace to heaven

And wear a crown with Jesus.

WILLIAM HUNTER

Bible Networking

God’s honor and reputation were a concern to many in the Old Testament. See also Joshua 7:9; Isaiah 63:14, 16; and Ezekiel 36:22-23.