Miserable?

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7:24-25a

“O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor MISERABLE sinner, confess to you all my sins…”  Those are the opening words for the confession of sins, that I have been reciting in worship since I was little. I often use them in my own personal time of prayer and confession.  They are found in The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship and the Lutheran Service Book. They must be pretty commonly accepted.  Yet I have been asked about these words again and again, throughout my ministry.  One lady called me to ask that these words be removed from our confession, because she was NOT a miserable sinner.  I have had a whole class of confirmation students who were troubled because of how harsh and negative the words sounded to them.  We even talked about these words in a recent Bible class.

That’s why I decided to look up the word “miserable” in the dictionary to see if it belongs as part of my confession of sins.   Here is what I found.  One word used to describe “miserable’ is the word Paul uses in Romans 7:24 – the word “wretched.”   “Wretched man that I am,” He writes.  He is lamenting the fact that no matter how much he wants to do the right thing, he fails.  Even worse he writes, “the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”  Yes, that’s me.  Webster also says defines the word “miserable” as “causing misery, discomfort or suffering.” That reminds me of the story about a girl who tried to defend her sin to her pastor by asking, “who am I hurting?”  He proceeded to list off 10 different people who were hurt by what she was doing.  “Last of all,” he added, “there is me.  I was supposed to be out golfing today instead I am here with you.”   It’s true.  We don’t sin in a vacuum.  Bad temper, gossip, greed – whatever it is makes others miserable.  The dictionary goes on to say that the word means to be “inadequate.”  Is that not what Paul means when he writes that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?”  Finally, Webster adds the words “shameful and disgraceful.”  Are there things you have done or said of which you are ashamed… things you try to keep hidden from others?   Yes, it appears to me, that the word “miserable” is an accurate description of what sin has done to us.  The word belong in the confession of sins. 

Now I understand St. Paul’s words in Romans 7:24, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”   Thank God there is an answer to that question.  There is someone who can save me from my misery.  That answer is not found in Webster’s dictionary.  That answer is found in the Bible.  That someone is found in a manger in Bethlehem and preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.   He is found healing the sick of Israel.  He is found suffering and dying in misery on a cross, then dead and buried.  Finally, He is found alive, risen from the dead and now ascended into heaven.  That someone… that answer is Jesus.  Jesus did all that to deliver you and me.  He did all that take our place in life and death, that we might have His place in the Father’s heart. He did all that to pay for our sins, and to conquer death for you and me.  Thanks be to God, Paul cries out in answer to his own question – Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Because of what Jesus did the words that describe you and me are changed.  “Miserable sinner” is not the whole story nor the end of the story.  Because of Jesus there are other – better words.  You are “loved by God.”  You are “forgiven.”  You are “God’s child.”  You are set “free.”  You are “saved.”  You are “delivered,” “redeemed,” “reconciled” and “justified” before God. Those are some great words – much better than “miserable.”

So why say that word each Sunday in our confession?  Because we need to be reminded just how much damage our sin has done and still does.  Only then can we fully appreciate what God did for us in His Son Jesus.  Only then can we know the full comfort of Romans 8:1 – “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”