In Psalm 19:13, David prays, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”
In this verse captures David’s plea for God’s help in avoiding willful sins, those actions where a person knowingly steps over the line, assuming God’s grace will cover their disobedience.
David was known as a man after God’s own heart, yet he recognized his own weaknesses and the danger of arrogance. In Psalm 19, he reflects on God’s creation, His laws, and how they reveal God’s glory and righteousness. By the end, he humbly asks God to keep him from presumptuous sins, knowing they could lead to greater transgressions. This teaches us that no matter how close we are to God, there is always a need for humility and caution in how we approach Him.
There are two main areas where presumption can be dangerous:
1. Presuming upon God’s Forgiveness
Some people fall into the trap of thinking, “I can sin now and ask for forgiveness later.” They assume God’s favor will always be there, no matter how they act. This is a dangerous attitude because it shows a lack of true repentance and a disregard for the seriousness of sin. When we sin, it should grieve our hearts because it grieves God. The Bible warns that deliberately continuing in sin with this mindset can lead to a hardened heart (Hebrews 10:26-27).
God’s forgiveness is abundant, but it is not something to be taken lightly or presumed upon. When we seek forgiveness, it should be with a humble and repentant heart, truly turning away from our wrongdoing. As David says in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
2. Presuming upon God’s Blessings
Another form of presumption is expecting God to bless our actions without seeking His will first. This could mean making decisions without prayer, ignoring God’s Word, or acting out of selfish motives. It’s an attitude that assumes, “God will bless whatever I do because I’m His child.” But God’s blessings come when we walk in His ways, not when we chart our own course without Him.
James 4:13-15 reminds us of this: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow… For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” We are to seek God’s guidance in all we do, recognizing that any blessing we receive is by His will, not our own plans.
A Call to Humility
Instead of presuming upon God, we should always approach Him with humility. When seeking forgiveness, come with a heart that is truly sorry, not one that takes grace for granted. When asking for blessings, do so with a spirit that desires God’s will above our own desires. Remember that God’s grace and blessings are not something we earn or manipulate but gifts from a loving Father to His obedient children.
David’s prayer in Psalm 19:13 serves as a reminder for us to be vigilant against pride and presumption. Let’s ask God to guard our hearts, keeping us humble and dependent on Him, not on our own assumptions or desires.
