Hmm, secrets faults? What are secret faults? God’s law shows what sin is (Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4). Looking into the law helps us to see ourselves and what we need to change (James 1:23-25).
Still, David realized that we have blind spots. We may not recognize some sins in our own lives, but they are not secret to God. Asking God to cleanse us of secret sins implies more than just asking Him to forgive them. We need God to reveal them to us so we can commit to change and seek His help to overcome these sins.
The godly man is not only concerned about avoiding committing sins willfully, but also with extracting those hidden sins that are committed unknowingly:
jealousy, arrogance, selfishness, laziness, desire for control, passive-aggression, inability to apologize, lying to avoid a conflict or protect our ego... all flaws often kept "secret."
Because we so often allow our carnal natures to dominate us, we remain blind to many of our sins and character flaws until God reveals them to us through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes “secret faults” can even be wounds, defenses, habits formed long ago that operate automatically. We don’t consciously choose them they just run in the background.
Notice the order in this Psalm right after asking cleansing from secret faults, David says: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins…” (verse13). There’s a progression ... Secret faults → hidden, subtle/Presumptuous sins → willful, bold, rebellious/Hidden things, if not cleansed, grow into hardened things. And this goes right along with Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart… and see if there be any wicked way in me.” That’s spiritual maturity ... inviting examination. “I may be wrong in ways I don’t know. Cleanse even those.” That’s safe ground spiritually.
Until He Comes-
-Pat Phillips-
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