Chapter 2
Adoration and Appreciation

(Before You Ask: Part 1)

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his
courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).

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What is your impression of a friend, family member, or coworker who greets you with a barrage of requests without even bothering to engage in some introductory conversation? If you’re a grandparent, how do you feel if your grandchild barges into the house and says, “give me this, do that, take me there, and fix this”? You’d like to do all these things, but wouldn’t you rather that they climb up in your lap, give you a big hug, and tell you first how much they love and appreciate you?

One of the key points presented in Chapter 1 is that praying means asking. The half brother of Jesus said, “You do not have, because you do not ask God”(James 4:2). And while it’s certainly a fact that asking is a key ingredient in prayer, it’s critical that we lay the proper foundation before we launch into our list of needs.

As you plod your way through this chapter and book, try to break away from the mindset that prayer primarily means asking God for things. That’s part of the process, but not the main objective.

Think first about adoration, praising God for who He is and expressing your love toward Him. As one of the modern era’s foremost authorities on prayer stated, “Adoration is the act of rendering divine honor, esteem, and love.” ³

King David models this beautifully on numerous occasions. “Ascribe to the LORD. O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion. Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” (Psalm 29:1-2; 34:1,3;65:1; 103:1).

His son Solomon learned well, voicing at the dedication of the Temple, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no one like you in heaven above or on earth below” (1 Kings 8:23). Other prominent Old Testament characters followed suit - “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God” (Nehemiah 1:5), “O Lord, the Great and awesome God” (Daniel 9:4).

Jesus provides the best example of all in the opening line of what we know as The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9). Hallowed is a New Testament expression used only in reference to the name of God. The Greek word for our word hallow is hagiazo, meaning “to revere or sanctify.” ⁴

Praise comes first because it helps us forget about ourselves and focus on God. Certainly we have needs, otherwise, why would we have come to Him in prayer? However, building a relationship with God, as opposed to sharing our requests to Him, should be our main goal.

“Since its source is God Himself, praise centers on the excellencies, perfections and glories of His nature, His character and His role in human affairs. It is the most appropriate way to enter His presence.” ⁵ As we probe deeper into the matter, note these two biblical truths regarding praise.

Singing enhances praise- There is no better way to enhance your praise than by expressing it with singing. Adoration through song in prayer creates a pleasant aroma that floats through the portals of heaven into the nostrils of God, bringing Him great joy. As the Psalmist says, “Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:2). A large portion of the Psalms are prayer songs. Also, no fewer than forty-one of the Psalms specifically refer to “singing praises” unto the Lord” ⁶

It may seem awkward at first, but by including singing, you’ll find that your prayers will be greatly enhanced. That has certainly proved to be the case with me. I often use simple praise songs or the choruses of my favorite hymns.

The book Psalms of the Heart contains the story of two missionaries who traveled to southern Mexico to work among the Chol Indians. Among other ministries, they labored twenty-five years to translate the New Testament into the local language. Today, more than 12,000 make up the Chol Christian Community – which, by the way, is financially self-supporting.

What’s most amazing is that when the missionaries arrived, the locals didn’t even know how to sing. Upon their conversion, however, the Christians in the tribe became known as “the singers.” “They love to sing now,” said author George Sweeting, “because they have something to sing about.”⁷

If you’re a born again believer, you certainly have something to sing about.

And there’s no better place to put that into practice than your prayer life.

Satan hates praising- If you discover that the devil wants to interrupt and invade your prayer times, start exalting and magnifying the Lord. To him, it’s worse than that screeching sound that comes when someone drags their fingers down a chalk board (I’m dating myself here).

And why is Satan so averse to praise? Because, I firmly believe that before he became the devil he was Lucifer the angel, the praise leader of heaven. “Somehow, pride and egotism bested him, and he mistakenly surmised that the possibility of being greater than God was worth the risk of giving up the high privilege of praising God.”⁸

Such arrogance prompted him to lead a rebellion among angels designed to dethrone God Himself. This failed attempt resulted in Satan and his henchmen being thrown out of heaven (see Isaiah 14). Living in torment ever since, they take great satisfaction in stealing joy from God’s children. Thus, adoration proves to be the weapon of choice against the devil and his demons. “Satan is allergic to praise, so where there is massive triumphant praise, Satan is paralyzed, bound, and banished.”⁹

Yet, as appropriate and powerful as adoration is, it’s only part of the preparation for asking. Think also about appreciation, thanking God for what He has done and expressing your gratitude to Him.

As the headings indicate, thanksgiving differs from praise in that we are thanking God for what He has done and will do as opposed to praising Him for who He is. And though gratitude can be expressed at any point in our prayers, it’s most appropriate in the beginning.

THE TRAGEDY OF INGRATITUDE

Ingratitude was one of the blatant sins of the Hebrews as they traveled to the Promise Land. Despite the fact that God supplied and protected them, they complained about their hardships. This aroused the LORD’S anger and prompted Him to rain down fire among them (Numbers 11:1-3).

As Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem for Passion Week, He healed ten lepers who came to him begging for pity. Although He cured them all, only one took time to thank Him (Luke 17:17).

Are things really that much different today than they were in Bible times? In our culture of entitlement, we’re prone to take for granted all of the blessings God provides.

Take for example the story of a mother and her four year old daughter who were walking through an open-air market. As the little girl gazed at a large display of oranges, a generous merchant took one and gave it to her.

“What do you say to the nice man?” the mother asked her daughter. After a quick glance at the orange, the little girl held it out for the man and said, “Peel it!”

According to Aesop, “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” And, the best way to develop an attitude of gratitude toward men is by first expressing it to God.

After the ark was brought to Jerusalem and subsequent offerings made, David said, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done” (1 Chronicles 16:8). As it is also written, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men” (Psalm 107:1,8).

The Gospels provide ample evidence that Jesus modeled a life of thankfulness. Before feeding the four thousand with a few loaves of bread and small fish, He gave thanks to the Father for them (Mark 8:6,7). Jesus said after a time of teaching, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 12:25, KJV). At the tomb where He raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me”(John 11:41).

Paul expressed the importance of thanksgiving repeatedly, penning, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Ephesians 5:19,20; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2, emphasis added).

Spiritual blessings- Paul writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3, emphasis added). Prayer presents the perfect opportunity to offer thanks for such blessings. Take time to offer gratitude for: your salvation, the forgiveness of your sins (past, present, and future), the Holy Spirit that lives within you, the continual fillings of the Spirit He provides, the spiritual gifts He has given you, the divine wisdom and insight He shares with you, the promise that, if you have been saved, you have a home in heaven when you die, that Jesus is coming again to this earth to defeat the enemies of God and establish His kingdom, and that you will one day receive a glorified, resurrection body. The list is endless because His spiritual blessings are unlimited.

Physical blessings- If you enjoy good health, thank the Lord for it. Why not use the five weekdays to thank Him for the five senses He has given you. Express gratitude for your internal organs and outward extremities. Augment these prayers by taking care of yourself physically through proper rest, nutrition, and exercise. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and should be treated as such.

Material blessings- We’re going through a colder than normal winter where I live, which makes me especially grateful for the nice, warm house God has provided –not to mention our jobs, cars, clothes, appliances and food. We eat out regularly and take a vacation once or twice a year. Indeed, we’re mega blessed.

I’m thankful for this laptop on which I write these words. I can’t imagine that just a few short years ago such projects were cranked out on manual typewriters. And to think, in Bible times, they were written on plant leaves and animal skins. Then again, Jesus wrote in the dirt with His finger.

It may sound cliché, but pause during your prayers to consider just how materially blessed you’ve been. Then thank God, because He is the source from which these things come.

People blessings- No man is an island unto himself. Countless people are responsible for where you are. If you were born into a loving Christian home, thank God for it. Like me, if you had a mother and father in the house, hallelujah, because that’s becoming increasingly rare. I’m so thankful for my wife and daughters. As a pastor, I’m indeed grateful for the staff that helps me and the congregation I serve.

DROWNING IN INFORMATION,
STARVING FOR ATTENTION

Consider thanking God for a different person every day over the span of a year. Go a step further by interceding (to be discussed later) for them. While you’re at it, make a contact by text, email, phone, paper note, or personal visit. Remember, people are drowning in information but starving for attention. Give them some –first before God and then to them.

Hardship blessings-That’s not a misprint. You read it right. When Job’s wife told him to curse God and die, he retorted, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”(Job 2:10). Likewise, should we thank God only for the good things that come our way and not the bad? In the long run, the bad may do us a lot more good than the good (mull over that awhile). Take for example the godly saint who said, “I could have done without many pleasures, but I could not have spared one sorrow that God allowed to come into my life.”¹⁰

That’s a tough pill to swallow in the hedonistic culture that engulfs us. Yet I’ve found it to be absolutely spot on. Hardships I experienced years ago in ministry have prepared me for the bigger ones that have come along down the road. I’ve even found myself asking God, in the midst of a trial, to not let the intended lesson slip away without being learned.

Matthew Henry, a prominent 17^th century minister is remembered today for his commentary. During his lifetime, however, he was known for his gratitude. On one occasion, he was robbed while walking down a street. The thieves took everything of value. Soon after that, he recorded the following in his diary. “I am thankful that during these years I have never been robbed until now. Also, even though they took my money, they did not take my life. And although they took all I had, it was not much. Finally, I am grateful that it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”¹¹

Such an outlook springs only from a person who makes a habit of expressing adoration and appreciation to God. My prayer is that you’ll tap into the unsearchable things that await those willing to follow that path.

Chapter 1
Unsearchable Things

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

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Who can dispute the fact that we live in an age of information overload? We may not be getting any wiser as a society, yet, due to advancements in science, technology and social media, we are consuming knowledge in record amounts.

Despite that reality, what we do not know far outweighs what we do know. Not only is this the case from a human standpoint, but from a supernatural one as well --exponentially in fact. The untold mysteries beneath the oceans and beyond our galaxy pale in comparison to blessings and revelations God wants to pour out on His people, if only we would take the time to ask.

Jeremiah, one of the Old Testament Major Prophets, was encouraged by the Lord to do just that. At work when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem and took the Jews into captivity (586 BC), he often offended political and religious leaders for passing along the words of truth and warning God had given to him. In fact, as further examination of our central text reveals, he was imprisoned when this word from the Lord came to him, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Note that in this verse God issues a command to call. Paving the way for that challenge is a reminder that the LORD “made the earth . . .formed it . . . and established it” (Jeremiah 33:2). I call this grounds for the command. The Lord wants to make sure His supremacy and ability is understood before making the announcement. Certainly He who made the earth has no difficulty controlling the events that took place here.

“ASK…SEEK…KNOCK”

This basis of the Lord’s command is followed by the gist of the command. Jeremiah’s body may have been incarcerated, but his soul and spirit were not. Perhaps you find yourself in a similar situation. For whatever reason, you’re limited in your capacity to serve the Lord. But you can still pray can’t you?

And the great news is, God wants to hear from you. I have a few people who call from time to time that I’d rather not hear from. I’m sure there are some out there who would rather not hear from me. That’s never the case with God. He’s always available and ready to listen.

My wife and I have just become empty nesters. Our daughters live three hours from us, far enough away that we don’t see them as much as we would like. So you can imagine how glad we are when they take the time to call and check in with us. My parents are in their mid 80’s and live two states away. They want me to call and I’m happy to do so. Multiply those examples 10,000 x 10,000 and you get an idea of how much God loves to hear from us, His children.

Jesus provided what I call the Gospel equivalent of Jeremiah 33:3 in His Sermon on the Mount, when He preached, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7, emphasis added). Speaking in a more general sense, He later said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

A year or so ago I received a phone message that I was to call Fox News, and we’re talking national. The reporter wanted my take and a quote on a story unfolding in our area. My heart skipped a beat. I was euphoric. This was my big chance. Coming to my senses, I asked myself, “Do I get that excited when God leaves me a note to call Him?” They may not be written down on little pieces of paper but the Holy Spirit reminds me of them nonetheless.

God’s command to call is just as real today is it was over 2500 years ago. The invitation has been issued. He wants to hear from you. Respond, with full assurance of an answer, just like the affirmation Jeremiah received while locked up in prison. God did not say “I might answer” or “I could answer,” but rather “I will answer”, which brings to mind the previously recorded promise presented by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Incidentally, here’s the rest of the story concerning the Fox News reporter. With great excitement and anticipation, I called him back and it went to his voice mail three times. I guess he got what he needed from another source because he still hasn’t called me back.

Like me, I’ll bet you can think of phone calls that were never answered, emails not acknowledged, and Facebook friend requests that were ignored or rejected. Such won’t happen with God. He promises to answer and will. What we must understand, however, is that His answer may not come in your timing. This conflicts with the instant gratification mentality that saturates our society. We flip switches, push buttons and touch screens, expecting immediate results; a mindset that often spills over into our prayer lives.

Joseph Parker, a great British preacher and theologian in the 1800’s, was once discovered by a parishioner pacing back and forth in his office, with his hands clasped tightly behind his back. “Dr. Parker,” he asked, “What’s the problem?” To that the preacher replied, “The problem is I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t.”

God’s concept of time isn’t the same as ours. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day”(2 Peter 3:8). As has already been determined, He’s Creator --we’re created. Our understanding is limited at best. He can peer into the future and get the big picture.

Whereas there is a gestation period for humans and animals, I believe the same is true with prayer. Answers are conceived in the heart of God and advance to maturity at His discretion. And just like in the physical world, the time of gestation varies in the spiritual realm as well.

Satan also plays a role in holding up answers to prayers. For example, during the reign of Xerxes, the Lord sent Gabriel with an immediate answer to Daniel’s petitions. Yet the angel was delayed 21 days due to spiritual warfare in the invisible realm. It wasn’t until the angel Michael came to assist that he was able to break free to deliver the message (Daniel 10:12-14).

Of course He could answer immediately, yet usually doesn’t, which reminds me of my favorite axioms on the subject: “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” He’s ready anytime. He just wants to make sure we are. The waiting often strengthens faith and builds perseverance, a subject we will discuss again in a later chapter.

"NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS”

A second factor related to our assurance of an answer is that they may not be to your liking. An answer comes; it’s just not the one we want.

I’m certainly grateful for the many times God has said yes to my prayers over the years. As I look back, I’m thankful He said no at times as well. What happens to children who always get what they want? They often grow up with a sense of entitlement-spoiled, rebellious, and unappreciative. Earthly parents may enable such character but God is going to do everything He can to keep it from developing. I’ve prayed that God would open the door to a new place of service. Inevitably, He’d keep me right where I was, bring me through the difficulty, and teach me a lesson in the process.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus petitioned, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me” (Luke 22:42). By cup, He meant the anguish He would have to endure by taking on our sins and having that perfect union with His Father briefly, yet darkly interrupted.

What if God had been willing? As one of my seminary professors once said, “Sort of makes your hair stand on end.” We’d still be lost in sin and bound for Hell. Thankfully, Jesus said what we should always say, “Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Hours later, watching His precious only Son executed on a cross, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Even more than teaching about prayer, the purpose of this book is to increase your desire to know God and call upon Him. He’d like to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. You’ll see that’s not a far-fetched overstatement as we examine the move from a promise of an answer to the parameters of that promise.

The Lord said to Jeremiah, “I will…tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). The Hebrew word for unsearchable is basur, which means beyond the grasp of human knowledge. It’s the same word to describe the fortified cities of Canaan with “walls up to the sky” (Deuteronomy 1:28). “Here, it refers to matters so far beyond human insight that they require divine revelation.” ¹

Does that not excite you and ignite a desire to communicate more diligently with God? Sometimes I get a little tired of what people feel about a matter. I want to know what God thinks. I realize we have written record of divine revelation by way of the Bible. Yet, I believe He has fresh, colossal blessings stored up and ready to pour out on those who humble themselves in prayer before Him.

Like me, don’t you grow weary of the predictable and explainable? As one of my favorite writers on the subject, Jack Taylor writes, “Prayer opens the door into dimensions beyond understanding.”² Through steady supplication, we are able to drill through the surface layer of the finite and tap into the inexplicable infinite. Prayer may be a tool for time, yet it allows us to interact with and even affect eternity.

The apostle Paul, who clearly grasped this truth, penned that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). God is not limited by our ability to comprehend because His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

The Old Testament tells of the time when a poor, debt-ridden, single mother approached Elisha for assistance. All she had left in the way of food was a little oil. The prophet then said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few” (2 Kings 4:3, emphasis added). She then took the jars she gathered and began pouring what little oil she had into them. Miraculously, the oil did not stop flowing until she ran out of containers.

INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY

Too often, we go before God’s fountain with a thimble in hand, when He’s ready and willing to fill up a tanker truck. Limitations come not from God’s ability to provide, but rather from our capacity to receive.

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway, then hid himself to watch and see if anyone would bother to move the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest subjects approached the boulder, then simply walked around it. Many blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none made any effort to move the big stone off the road.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his load and began moving the stone to the side of the road. After a lot of pushing and straining, he was finally successful.

Picking up his load of vegetables, the peasant noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. Upon opening it, he discovered a bunch of gold coins. Along with the treasure was a note from the king indicating that the gold belong to the person who took the time to remove the big rock from the roadway.

Like moving boulders, prayer is hard work. The good news is the King of Kings has untold spiritual treasures in store for those willing to take the time and make the effort to communicate with Him.

Obviously, Jeremiah obeyed the Lord’s challenge. The Lord answered by releasing the Jews from captivity, returning them to their land, and restoring their fortunes and city. Call out to Him in earnest and see what He wants to do in your life and how He desires to minister to others through you.

Chapter 3
Acknowledgment

(Before You Ask: Part 2)

“‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’- and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

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In 1884, Grover Cleveland ran against James G. Blaine for U.S. President. During the course of the campaign, Blaine supporters discovered that Cleveland, a bachelor at the time, fathered a child by Mrs. Maria Crofts Halpin, an attractive widow who had been on friendly terms with numerous politicians.

In an attempt to capitalize on the situation, they tried to pin an immorality tag on Cleveland by distributing flyers showing an infant titled, “One more vote for Cleveland” and by having crowds chant, “Ma, ma, where’s my pa? Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha!” The move backfired badly when Cleveland chose to tell the truth and admit to the scandal. His confession diffused the issue and he eventually won the race.¹²

Owning up to the truth before men, no matter how painful it is, is never a bad idea. Yet it can’t take the place of confessing our transgressions to God, a key part of prayer that often gets neglected. The fact is, an unwillingness to admit our transgressions short circuits the entire process.

Scripture says, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have listened. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:12). In other words, we become detached from God and go unheard by Him if we choose to suppress our transgressions rather than confess them.

David writes, “Who may ascend to the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. . .” (Psalm 24:3,4). Since our own righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and we can’t purify ourselves, we must depend on the righteousness of Christ and His blood’s cleansing power. As the Bible says, “The blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

“CLEANSE ME WITH HYSSOP”

David understood this clearly a thousand years before the Cross. Reeling from the guilt brought on by his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, he cried out to God, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter that snow” (Psalm 51:2,7).

Yet, confession in Scripture goes beyond the admission of and seeking forgiveness for sin. We can also profess our faith in God (Romans 10:10) and confess our praise to Him (Hebrews 13:15). Focusing exclusively on the subject of prayer, I’d like to devote the remainder of this chapter to the following two challenges:

First, acknowledge your desire for God. Remember, it’s always good to look to the heavens before gazing into the mirror. In other words, focus on God before shifting the spotlight to yourself.

The Psalmist employs an example from nature to describe a person who intensely desires an encounter with God. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). It has been suggested that the writer had been cut off from God’s Temple and His people and was thus enduring a season of spiritual bitterness and barrenness. Whatever the case, we can certainly visualize a graceful doe bent over lapping cool water from a gently flowing brook.

King David uses similar wording in a Psalm he wrote after being driven from the throne by his rebellious son Absalom. Hiding out in the Judean desert, he poured forth these words from his embattled soul: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

For the purpose of mental and physical health, I distance run. At the actual events, multiple water stations are set up throughout the course. Unfortunately, they are not there on my training runs and I don’t like the inconvenience of carrying bottled water. Needless to say, after running an hour or two without water (I know that’s not smart!), I am VERY thirsty. Just the thought of those waters floating in a cooler in the back seat of my car triggers intense anticipation and desire.

As I write these words, I’m in hour 22 of a 24-hour fast. It’s been wonderful to experience this oft neglected spiritual discipline, yet I must admit that I’m looking forward to breaking the fast with a tasty lunch a couple of hours from now.

How I wish the thought of spending precious prayer time with God would unleash such hunger and thirst. Am I being unrealistic and melodramatic? I think not. It can and should be that way – maybe not every time, but more often than not. Acknowledging God means that our yearning for Him should exceed any physical craving we may possess.

In addition to acknowledging your desire for God, confession means that we acknowledge our sins to God, a truth alluded to in the beginning of this chapter. Note these five key principles related to our taking responsibility for our sins and then seeking God’s cleansing of them.

Confession must first be to God, since all sin is ultimately against Him. In the very first book of the Bible, we read of Jacob’s favored son Joseph being propositioned by the wayward wife of the Egyptian official whom he served. After being invited into her bed, he responded, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9, emphasis added).

Once David finally confessed his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, he prayed to the LORD, “Against you, you only, have I sinned (Psalm 51:4). As one commentator questioned, “Had he not sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, against old Ahithophel, his friend, his counselor, and Bathsheba’s grandfather? Had he not sinned against that little boy born to Bathsheba under such sordid circumstances? Of course he had.”¹³ Yet, his relationship with God was so authentic and his guilt so heart wrenching, he reckoned that his sin against God dwarfed what it was against the people involved.

We find a New Testament example in the prodigal son who unscrupulously sought his inheritance before the death of his father and then blew it immorally and frivolously. Once he came to his senses and realized the error of his ways, he repentantly confessed to his father, “I have sinned against heaven and against you”