Proverbs 28:13

There is no such thing, in dealing with God, as covering up sin. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper," and God only deals with men on the basis of what they are. If a man comes to God claiming to be righteous, God must refuse him: "the haughty He knows from afar" (Psalm 138:6). The Pharisee and tax collector teach us this. He will only meet in grace those whom His holiness has already convicted of sin.

Every effort to cover up sin fails. How much of this goes on today — not merely the covering of individual sins, but the denial of sin itself. Modern theology uses much clever argument that tries to make sin into something else. It speaks of sin as a mere defect, as if sin were a taint in the blood — an inherited and therefore unavoidable weakness, something for which man is not responsible. All these inventions sweep aside the declarations of the infallible Word of God. They are "covering up." There can be no mercy for those who deny sin and sins.

Man thinks of covering as concealment. God's covering is by atonement: "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper." "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away... I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity" (Psalm 32:3, 5). For such a person God provides a perfect and eternal covering. To the returning prodigal saying, "I have sinned," the Father replies, "Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him" (Luke 15:21-22).

Confession leads directly and at once to the reception and enjoyment of grace. As David puts it, "you forgave the iniquity of my sin." He uncovered his sin, and just as surely he entered into the blessedness of the man "whose sin is covered." Confession on his side led to covering of his sin on God's side. He was put right with God.

It is sadly possible to make confession of wrongdoing, and yet continue in it in more subtle and unseen ways. It is also possible to see that a certain sort of wrongdoing does not pay, and so to forsake it, but with no confession of wrong in the matter. But when the conviction of sin is genuine, confession of the sin comes first, and then a forsaking of it. Proverbs 28:13 shows this plainly.

This is an unchangeable, divine principle. It applies in the first place to the salvation of the soul, and just as much to the conduct of a believer. If a sinner deceitfully covers up his guilt, he can expect no mercy from God, no prospering, but eternal judgment. If he honestly confesses his sins, having faith in the blessed Son of God, then mercy forgives him, and for eternity. On the other hand, take a true believer who walks in disobedience to God and seeks to cover up his wrongdoing. God will not allow him to prosper in his Christian path: he will suffer. But if he honestly confesses his wrongs to his God and Father, then he will prove the sweetness of God's mercy as his present experience.

It is good when God acts like this with us, as indeed He often does. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper." If we will not confess our sin willingly, it is good that God should use His own means to force that sin into the open. Only then can He bring blessing to us.