While on vacation Andria and I reflected on hypocrisy. No, not our own, those around us. I suppose that makes us good hypocrites too! Rather, our hypocrite meter — which is tuned very finely I might add – was being set off by those around us. It’s funny — or maybe not so funny — how we can see so clearly the hypocrisy in others all the while blinded to our own.

Before God, his law exposes those things we hope we didn’t say aloud.

God’s law exposes all forms of hypocrisy—both latent and blatant. It cuts deep, really deep. It exposes the wayward actions, of others. But it also exposes our own. Fine. But it also makes know the wayward “thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Is it getting hot in here? Before God, his law exposes those things we hope we didn’t say aloud. (I just thought that, I didn’t say that, right?) It exposes those things we don’t speak about at parties. It exposes fears and weakness that no one knows about; well, except for the lawgiver. This is the genius of God’s law. It reflects his moral character, his holiness and goodness and purity and beauty and all those things that we adore our God for. Up against this standard we stand in awe. We long to be different. And we recognize our need for a Savior. This is the beauty and genius of the law.

Therefore, it’s in this context we hear the Psalmist pray, “Put false ways far from me” (119:29). This is the prayer of the righteous. The righteous never pray the opposite. Nevertheless, the righteous still need this prayer because perfection alludes us in the not yet. We are already righteous, just not there yet. To some this sounds like a sophisticated cop-out. But this is the mystery of the gospel. Sinners are welcomed into God’s presence as righteous. If this sounds like a cop-out then perhaps the gospel does too.

But even in this prayer the righteous can find loopholes. One is reminded of Augustine’s quip, “Lord, make me chaste…just not yet.” Or of the great poet of our day, Kenney Chesney, “Everybody wants to go to heaven…but nobody wants to go now.” If we are honest we can hear ourselves in Augustine and Chesney.

Confession is a time for us to do honest business with the lawgiver. He knows his law and he knows of our conformity to it. He knows of our failures and he knows of his perceptions. Most importantly, though, he knows of his Son’s perfections. He knows that we are represented by another. Therefore, when we cry out in confession he does not shun us, but welcomes us as represented by another. Only those represented by the perfect one can deal openly and honestly with their sin. Only those who are righteous, though not-yet, can pray, “Put false ways far from me.” God will be merciful to us because he showed no mercy to his Son.