What does Psalm 25:11 mean?
In this verse we read that David asked the Lord to forgive him. He confesses that his guilt is great. He asks for forgiveness for the Lord's name's sake; that is, so the Lord's mercy and love may be shown. Keeping in mind that David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), he still knew he was a sinner, whose load of guilt was heavy. He also knew the Lord is merciful and delights in steadfast love (Micah 7:18).The apostle Paul considered himself the foremost sinner, but he testified that he had received mercy for the Lord's sake. He wrote in 1 Timothy 1:16: "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life."
We should never minimize our sin. At the same time, we should never minimize the Lord's willingness to forgive our sin. First John 1:9 states: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
