Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-02-24
sUNDAY.sCHooL LESSON.

81: 1-13. March 2.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Wash me thoroughly
from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from
my SIM"
This is pre- eminently the penitential
psalm. 1t belongs to the second book or
group of the psalms, many of this portion
being David's work. The titles pre6xed
to some psalms are not part of the text,
but in many cases are later and erroneous
additions. In the case now under con-
sideration, the title very likely gives the
correct historical occasion of its produc-
ton. If so. it was writer by David in
view of the sad experience in the matter
of Uriah's wife. See Sam. q;
1874.
Verse 1.-The two lines of the verse
are not quite identical in thought; the
appeal is nearly the same, in the first to
Gods 'mercy' or favor, in the second to
his Glove" or compassion but while in
the first the prayer is the general one.
'be gracious or favorable, in the second
it is more definite, "blot out my trans
gression." "Blot out" means wipe out.
Verse 2.-The word rendered ''wash"
is the one used for washing clothes, and
gives the idea of removing the impurity
of de6led thing by vigorous effort;
''cleanse" is the general term, the one
commonly employed in the law to express
ceremonial publication. The words sin
iquity" and ''sin" amount to about the
same thing; the various terms are en-
ployed by the psalmist partly for variety's
sake, partly to give fullness to the
thought. The word ''thoroughly" indi-
Gates that he is not satisfied with par
tial deliverance from sin he would have
a perfectly clean conscience, such as is
avowed in Psalm II.
Verse 3.-"For.'' This Introductory
word does not mean that he expects pur-
ifcation from sin for the sake of and on
the ground of his following confession;
but it introduces his knowledge of his
sin as the ground of his prayer for deliv-
erance. 1t IS his consciousness of sin
that is here expressed 81 know" am
aware of my transgressions, and not un-
concerned about them.
Verse 1.-The verse is double par
allelism: in the first two lines, declara-
tion that the sin is against God; in the
second two, statement of his design to
bring out Gods justice. Against thee
only have sinned.' What the sin was
we cannot say. 1t is not likely that it
was idolatry, which literally might be
called sin against God alone. The
second line repeats this thought, with
the omission of the "only," but the sense
seems to be the same. In the second
couplet the psalmlst declares that he
makes this statement of his sin in order
that Gods justice and purity In his
judgment may be evident. He seems to
be suffering punishment for his sins. and
his declaration that the sin was against
God is made in order that it may appear
that God was just in furnishing him.
Verse 5.-The psalmist now laments
the evil of his nature. The "behold
calls special attention to this declaration
as an important one The two lines are
substantially identical in meaning: 81
was shapen (born) in iniquity," and sin
sin my mother conceived me. The
meaning is that his life had been evil
from its beginning,lt remotest beginning
Verse Glow must such a being a;
this feel in the presence of the holy God
who demands complete inward purity
"Thou desirest truth, in firm and stable
conformity to right, faithfulness in pur
pose, rightness in belief and in act. Thu
: inward parts means mind, heart, soul
, the essential nature; the parallel "hid
den part" means the same thing. Seeing
-, God thus desires inward truth, tn
o psalmist prays for true inward wisdom,
o broad knowledge of the best way of life
] founded on the fear of God.
Verse THE next petition furthe
develops the idea of the preceding "trut
, and wisdom in terms almost identica
!. with those of verse 2-prayer for moral
religious purity. The first verb is strik
! ing: purge me" rid me of sin. ''Clean
j. and ''whiter than snow" have the sam
o sense; compare lisa. l Is. "Hyssop
q was common means and symbol of pr
q rifcation; it was thus used in the cert
= monial publications of the law.
Verse 8.-The psalmist advances on
d step with the prayer that he may shear,
), have tidings of, have experience of, 80
and gladness." The second line repeat
the thought in different words; 18th
~ bones which thou hast broken may RI
joice; ;" broken bones give picture {
4 heavy chastisement, soul crushed. On
II of this crushing sorrow he asks to |
e lifted into joy.
Verse 9.-"Hide thy face from m
SINS" do not look at them, let them |
as if they were not. 1t is another wa
u of asking for forgiveness.
- Verse 1O.="A clean heart create