The future of the art of apologizing without repentance may be seen from a redraft of David’s Psalm 51 in modern terms. “Please let me off the hook, and do not punish me, O God. According to your vacuum of justice, redefine my “sin.” Surely it is not as bad as the preacher and other old fashioned moralists suggest. After all, Forgiveness is always granted unconditionally.”

Modern efforts that pass as public apologies are more often attempts to justify the apologizer than examples of repentance. However, against that backdrop, a better way is provided in an ancient poem in Holy Scripture. It’s good for all those around you to review yesterday’s repentance, compared to today’s lame apologies with a view of avoiding even worse penance.

Here’s Today’s Apology: “Douglas”

True Repentance is nearly a lost skill. Some politicians and celebrities, in fact, have nearly created an art form of avoiding true repentance by offering spurious or vague public confessions. How far real repentance is from what we normally hear.

I have watched for several years to see if any sitting politician could utter two almost unvocalized words: “I’m sorry.” Only once in a while amidst all our scandals is this heard. Forgiveness may well be given, if a person indicates, “I’m truly sorry. I was wrong. There is no excuse for my behavior.” However, when numerous pleas, rationalizations, and excuses are presented, it becomes difficult to forgive. After all, if transgression is explained away, how can we forgive? Why, the Lord might even find that perplexing.

There are many excuses for sin. It seems that the worldly never fail to come up with more shocking excuses than even the sins they want to justify.

Recently, a once-leading Christian magazine published an article that was erroneous, embarrassing, and recognizable to any 6th grader in Sunday School. Once caught, one of the editors (not even the chief) issued an LKS-apology (Lame-Kinda-Sorta). He began by virtue signaling his own piety (1st paragraph), followed by rationalization (2nd paragraph)—namely that he was curious, intrigued by a creative theory, which after all was published by a professor in a top journal, and finally admitted that he should have looked some verses up to spot the contradiction (3rd paragraph). Only in the 4thparagraph did he admit his error (mitigated, we are to think by his “eagerness to explore the historical context”) and conclude: “I’m sorry.” At least, he is sorry.

In our world, even those who admit they’ve done something, want to be excused anyway, either because they had bad parents, or their urges were strong, or some earlier period of life was too traumatic. Many theological experts can no longer bring themselves to mention sin because someone’s self-esteem might be impinged.

Here’s Yesterday’s Apology: “David”

How refreshing it is, amidst our world’s blindness and confusion, to find sanity and common sense in the Scriptures. The presence of so many misdeeds ought to tell us something about our society. The presence of individual sins in David’s life convinced him that he was sinful from birth. But that did not excuse him. We should also note that in David’s confession, here before the throne of grace, he does not repeat Adam’s folly by claiming some excuse. Instead, he prays “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions, wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

This Penitential hymn has three distinct stanzas or parts, as outlined below.

1. First Stanza, 1-6: the Confession David’s Predicament and David’s Hope (v. 1-2; also v. 9)

Verses 1-6: The Confession exhibits how: True Repentance acknowledges that God is justified.

David, note, does not offer any of the following:

o “But God, please remember my service.”

o “Please take into account my poor family environment.”

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