2 Chronicles 29:20-24
As the temple, the priests and the Levites have been consecrated, it is ready for the rededication of the Temple. At the first dedication of the Temple, Solomon prayed that if the nation sins against the Lord, but then repents and prays to the Lord in this house, may the Lord hear from heaven and forgive the sin of His people Israel. The Lord responded by saying that if His people humble themselves and repent, He will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:12-14). This is what Hezekiah did urgently (“...the king rose early and gathered... and went up to the house of the Lord,” verse 20). In order for the covenant relationship between Israel-Judah and God can be restored, the nation must repent, confess their sins and return to the LORD. It is not enough to lament and forsake those sins but a sin offering must be made for atonement of sin for all Israel (verse 24) as one people of God.
The confession of sin is an essential part of Christian living and worship both individually and corporately. The Christian life is marked by the pursuit of righteousness, and yet we can fail because of our sinful human nature and as we still live in a sinful world. Yet there is still forgiveness, a forgiveness grounded in the Christ’s redemptive work. As the saying of the Proverb “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13); therefore, the whole Christian life must be one of continuous repentance and faith. The confession of sin allows us to be honest and real with ourselves and one another.
Individually, we should cultivate a habit of honestly examining our life daily and confess our failures to please God. The Bible also exhorts us to confess our sins with one another and to pray for one another (James 5:16). Brothers and sisters in Christ should willingly confess to one another and seek forgiveness. Spouses should examine each other hearts, confess each other sins and seek forgiveness. Parents should teach their children to examine their hearts, acknowledge their sins and seek forgiveness. By confessing our sins, we acknowledge our deep need for the Lord. It prevents us from self-righteousness and pride. If we fail to confess our sin, we deceive ourselves, the truth is not in us, and even worst that we make God a liar (1 John 1:8- 10). On the other hand, when we confess our sin, we actually witness to the truth of the Gospel.
“But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)
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