Psalm 38:17-18 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
During David’s prayer for rescue and protection from his enemies, he seeks God’s mercy, knowing that within him is no good thing that deserves blessing. He has genuine, godly sorrow over his own sin and boldly confesses his iniquity. Genuine repentance and godly sorrow for our sin, not the sins of others, is our true response to God when things get tough and our spiritual enemies threaten.
We do not claim any merit for which we deserve help from God, for real faith in His Word knows otherwise. God’s Word convicts us of sin and guilt and reveals to us our desperate need for mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Fortunately, God is mercy and covers us with forgiveness because of Christ. Pray that the Word and the Spirit will grant a penitent and sorrowful heart that seeks and finds forgiveness, life, protection, and blessing in Christ Jesus. The penitent goes down to his house justified rather than the other. So we ask for godly sorrow, for when the Lord makes us truly sorrowful for our sins, then we are overjoyed by the Gospel.