Psalm 19 (18):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is essential to reflect on whether any hidden guilt exists within a person, regardless of their perceived righteousness, because the Sovereign of Justice reigns on high, whose insight cannot overlook any wrongdoing, not even the sins that baffle understanding. Since this Sovereign of Justice occupies the throne, who can claim to have a perfectly pure heart, or assert that they are entirely free from sin? Only those who take pride in their own righteousness rather than in the grace that comes from His judgment.

Refrain from considering yourself innocent and faultless in the sight of the Lord, for all that is concealed from you is laid bare before God. O Lord Jesus Christ, Sovereign of Sovereigns, you who wield authority over life and death, who understands all that is hidden and mysterious, to whom no intention or logic is obscure. "Purge me from my hidden sins," for “I have done evil before Thee” (Psalm 50:6). Truly, my days are diminishing steadily, and my transgressions are increasing.

Although I strive earnestly to follow God's commandments, my inherent frailty leads me into various actions contrary to my wishes. There are moments when I sin without awareness, and in other situations, I find myself overwhelmed by the challenges I face. While I make an effort to steer clear of sin outwardly, my mind is troubled by numerous forms of impurity. Thus, I humbly call upon You, the One who has the power to purify me, and plead, “Cleanse me from my hidden transgressions.”

Who truly comprehends the fall into sin? Given that obeying God's commandments requires absolute avoidance of sin, a feat unattainable for finite beings, David rightly inquires: Who possesses the wisdom and insight to differentiate between the evil thoughts and sins that assail him constantly? And who can refrain from yielding to them, meaning from consenting to their presence and actions? Numerous sins are so insidious and concealed, particularly mental temptations, that distinguishing them proves challenging. "From my secret sins cleanse me"—David refers to either the sins committed in secrecy or the vile, blasphemous, and wicked thoughts that permeate his mind, for which he seeks God's assistance.

The Holy Spirit understands that concealed sinful desires can cause the greatest anguish to the soul, as they are deeply entrenched within it. He instructs us through David on how to rid ourselves of these: "From my secret things purify me, and from strangers spare Thy servant." These utterances suggest that, with the Spirit's strength, we can triumph over hidden sinful inclinations through earnest prayer, sincere faith, and a genuine and ideal longing for God. As we strive to protect the outward man, the body, from overt sins, in line with the Apostle's teaching, "If any man destroy the temple of God, - here he speaks of the body, - God will punish him" (1 Cor. 3:17), we must also endeavor to keep the inner man, the soul, free from corruption by unclean thoughts. The Apostle further advises, "Guard your heart with all keeping, as if it were the bride of Christ; from these things proceed the life" (Proverbs 4:23).

While there are always individuals who live righteously and many who place their trust in God through continual acts of goodness, we should not rely too heavily on the integrity of our conscience. We must recognize that human frailty, amidst struggles and temptations, may encounter harmful influences. The greatest prophet asks: Who can claim, ‘I have purified my heart, I am clean from my sin’? (Proverbs 20:9). Yet, in the Psalms, it is noted: ‘From my secret things cleanse me, O Lord, and from strangers keep Thy servant’.

What is the number of non-fatal sins? According to the Psalmist, "Of the sins of the fall, who shall understand?", the count of immortal sins is beyond measure.

A person may not be able to perceive or acknowledge many of their sins within their own conscience, yet God's gaze, which shines more brilliantly than the sun, sees all. Thus, the Psalmist asks, "Who can see his faults?" illustrating that no one can fully recognize or count them. Consequently, he implores the Lord for purification, stating, "Cleanse me from my secret things," indicating that only confession, earnest prayer, and faith in Christ Jesus can wash them away. His “blood cleanseth from all sin” for those who trust in Him and admit their transgressions (see 1 John 1:7).

He states that he observes God's commandments, thus making amends and purging the sins that arise from human frailty, which cannot be entirely avoided. It suggests that despite being vigilant, ‘Thy servant remains shielded from transgressions by adhering to Your law, albeit imperfectly, constrained by the limits of human vulnerability.’ The original Hebrew expresses it as: Who can comprehend ignorance? Here, ignorance is set against comprehension to illustrate the challenge of abstaining from sins committed unknowingly. Nonetheless, as transgressions exist and can be avoided, he includes the supplication, ‘Cleanse me from my secret sins,’ referring to those sins committed in weakness and ignorance, whether they are unknown to me, forgotten, or not perceived as sins at all.

Who can truly grasp the depth of sinfulness that resides in our minds and thoughts? The number of such transgressions far exceeds our most valued possessions and is greater than the grains of sand upon the shore. Hidden sins linger in the heart, leading to wrongdoing, and there are those matters that individuals seek to conceal in confession. Reflect on the fall in paradise, instigated by the sinister influence of a demon, and avoid engaging quietly with malevolent spirits. Instead, let us call upon the Lord at all times, day and night: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner’, and strive against our passions.

If hidden and external transgressions do not prevail against me, I will be innocent; for when I am liberated from hidden and external sins, I will be free from the weighty burden of sin. The prophet refers to hidden and external sins as a significant offense, firstly, because they can indeed be substantial; secondly, because they remain uncleansed by prompt repentance.