Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-03
SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
THE JOY OF FoRe1yENEss.-ps.,,

ed to have reigned about twenty years.
He had yielded to temptation, committed
a great crime in the sight of God, by his
abuse of Uriah's wife and by causing the
death of her husband, (see II Sam. 11.)
He had been visited by Nathan, who had
reminded him Of his great sin, and had
told him the purposes of God concerning
him. David was sorely distressed, and
grieved greatly, both at the loss of his
child, and at the displeasure of God, and
it is supposed IN great humiliation and
sorrow sought forgiveness. The Lord
had mercy on him and he utters this, one
of the seven psalms that are called "pen-
itential psalms" The title of this psalm
is "Maskil, the exact meaning of which
is not determined. It seems to mean,
however, didactic, or that which teaches.
1t is divided into three parts by the word
"Selah," the Specification of which is not
we'll understood. It is generally sup
posed that "Selah'' was some musical
term meaning pause, or something in
regard to the musical instruments which
accompanied the singing. David's life
had been checkered he had known the
ills of poverty and the blessings of
wealth; he had enjoyed the smile and
favor of the Lord, and had felt the pain
and remorse of SHINING against Him.
Hence he was well fitted to pen psalm
that should be filled with instruction
such as the one before us.
l. Blessed is he auhose transgression is forgiven.
Dhose sin is covered.
Every sinner who has sought the Lord
sorrowing for sins, and has felt the sweet
peace and joy that fills the soul when
forgiveness comes, knows how blessed it
is to have transgressions forgiven, and
sins covered, buried and forgotten of
the Lord
q Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord mputeth
not niquity. and in whose spirit there is guile.
The soul once forgiven of its sin, that
seeks by obedience and faith to walk in
the Light, may be free from guile, and
to that one God imputeth not iniquity.
8. When kept silence, my bones waxed old through
my roaring all the day long.
The psalmist in this verse acknowl-
edges his familiarity with sin, and
says that when he kept silence his
bones waxed old. His conscience SO
troubled him that the burden depressed
and bore him down like the weight of
age and sorrow. "My roaring" His
bitter crying and lamenting for his sins.
4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me
my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.
Selah.
The reference in this verse to the
drought of summer, and the state
ment that the Lords hand was heavy
upon him, show how exceedingly heavy
may be the burden of guilty conscience,
and how barren and desolate the soul
may be, when the drought of evil is
upon it.
5. acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniq
uity have not hid. l said, will confess my trans
| gressons unto the Lord and thou forgavest the
| iniquity of my SIM Selah.
Acknowledgment and full comics.
sion was made of sin, and forgive.
ness followed. The Lord is ready and
willing to forgive those who in penitence
and godly sorrow make confession, anc
promises forgiveness to such as ask fol
it believingly.
6. For this shall every that is gedly pray mt
thee in time when thou mayest he found: surely il
the floods of great waters they shall not come mig
unto him.
Because God is gracious to forgiv
those who seek forgiveness, therefor
the godly or pious should pray unit
Him while He may be found. "Surely'
then shall great troubles not overwheln
them. The floods of great waters" shall
not come nigh to them. But what
any shall fail to pray when de may b
found?
I. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserv
me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about wit
songs of deliverance. Seah.
This verse is both plain and fgurative
A hiding place, means refuge in dar
ger, which most assuredly the Lord ii
The psalmist knew both by observatio
and experience that the Lord did pre-
serve from trouble. From the sorro
and guilt of sin the psalmist had rise
: into the joy of forgiveness, and he bot
wrote and sang the happy songs of deli
r erence. So shall the children of Go
sing when they have been delivered fro
all the thralldom of sin.
s 8. 1 will instruct thee and teach thee in the W
which thou shalt go: will guide thee with mine ey
This is most comforting verse.
our weakness and Ignorance, we a
taught that the Lord will be our strengt
1 and our teacher; and he will be in tt
way which we shall 60 in the journt
: of life. The eye of the Omnipotent sha
guide us safe into the haven of rest.
9. Be We not the horse. the mule scltict ha
II no understanding: whose mouth must be held in W
, pit and bride, lest they come near unto thee.
o This verse probably means that '
J. should not be like the fractions horse
# stubborn mule that refuse to yield
u gentle guiding, but that we shou
: cheerfully submit to the Lore, and havi
If sought His favor, receive His blessing
Vt 10. Many sorrows shall be 10 the wicked but he Il
trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compass him abou
- The whole bible teaches what is
;. plainly stated in this verse, that sorrov
IL.