12. Who can understand his errors? A
question which is its own answer. It requires an exclamation point rather than
a question mark. By the law is the knowledge of sin, and in the presence of
divine truth the psalmist marvels at the number and heinousness of his sins. He
best knows himself who best knows the Word, but even such a person will be in a
maze of wonder as to what he does not know, rather than on the mount of
congratulation as to what he does know. Augustine wrote in his older days a
series of Retractations; ours might make a library if we had enough grace to be
convinced of our mistakes and to confess them. Cleanse thou me from secretfaults. Thou canst mark in me faults entirely hidden from myself. It is
hopeless to expect to see all my spots; therefore, O Lord, wash away in the
atoning blood even those sins which my conscience has been unable to detect.
Secret sins, like private conspirators, must be hunted out, or they may do
deadly mischief; it is well to be much in prayer concerning them. If we had
eyes like those of God, we should think very differently of ourselves.
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