The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-30
SIN. PARDON AND PEACE

SIN. PARDON AND PEACE.
International Sunday school Lesson for
October ~, 1889.
Especially arranged from s. s. QUARTERLY
LESSON TExT-Psalms 3d.: Ill.
GOLDEN TExT-Therefore being justified
by faith, we have peace with God, through
our Lord Jesus Christ 81.
CENTRAL TRuTH-God loves to forgive
those who truly repent of their sins and
forsake them.
TIME - David's crime was committed
about B. G. 1896 Nsthan's reproof was Q
year later, and this psalm soon followed.
PLAcE-Jerusalem. Davids palace on
Mount Zion.
DAvm-About fifty years old, having
been King for twenty years.
PLACE IN BIBLE HIsToRr-2 Sam. 1l:1-27;
12:l-23
DAvID's SIN - David committed the
double crime Of adultery and murder, the
latter in order to hide the former. Sins
seldom go alone. David was very prosper
Gus. He was perhaps growing luxurious.
He stayed home from the war east Of the
dulging in idleness. He yielded to temp
tation, and that led to a series OF wrongs
which he never dreamed of doing when he
began. His sin was also against Gods
cause and the moral state of his kingdom
THE FAITHFUL PROPHETS WARNINd-See
2 Sam 12:1-l5.
| DAvID's REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION
David repented bitterly, and he proved his
sincerity by doing all he could to avert the
evil consequences Of his sin. He went so
far as publicly to confess before all the peo-
Pile Of his kingdom; he, King, acknowl-
edged that he had sinned, and had the con-
fession recorded in hymn to be sung-the
61st Psalm. -.-, ....
DAvID's Characteristic was a good man,
with many noble qualities, and accomplished
vast amount Of good. This double crime
was great blot on his character But we
must remember ~ that the blot seems all
the backer for being in so good man; (2)
that we must Judge him in the light Of his
-. circumstances, and not by our light
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs-1, g. Blessed:
the original is plural, 80 the blessedness OF
him." etc. The person described is blessed
in many ways, in body and in spirit, in him
self, and IN his relations to Others for time
and eternity. TrdnsUessiOV. going into
forbidden fields. Sin. missing the mark,
failing in duty. l'tqutty: in-equity, what is
unjust No guile: the repentance is sincere
Z and true. 3. When k'pt silence. did not
confess his sin. This verse and the next
describe Davids feelings during the year
he tried to keep his sin to himself. Bones
wdred (grew) old. he was weak, panied,
sick in body and soul. Roaring: crying out
In his anguish. 4. Thy hand: the emblem Of
power and activity, of bestowing some
thing. Ny moisture. the figure is taken
from tree whose sap is dried up, so that
its freshness and power is gone. Seldh: lie ,
interude 9. Floods Of great icdters. emblem
of troubles and punishment Z. Com ASS
Nth songs: he found deliverance from
troubles and dangers on every side, for
which he sang songs of praise. s. l; |. O.,
David. via instruct: teach from his En-
perience Guide thee toith mine eye: keep
watch over thee, so as to keep thee IN the
right path. 9. BE yc not as the horse, or as the
mule: irrational animals who are guided by
force and not by reason nrphU Sin is
always irrational; to sin is to act without
understanding Bit and bride: instead Of
noble moral influences. God will govern
men by reason, If they are willing to be SO
governed; by force, If they reject His
words. Lest they come near unto thee: better
as in Rev. Yer, else hcy ,oN not come ned,
unto thee, will not be subject to your control,
in harmony with your purposes.
LESSON PoINTs-Is the spirit Of David's
words in this lesson different from that
shown in the lesson for last Sundayl Yes;
for in that hymn of loud thanksgiving he
praises God for His more general mercies,
while in this Psalm he gives thanks for The
pardon of his great sin. That which is
most prominent in this lesson is his great
Joy over the pardon of sin. In verses l, 2
he speaks of his blessedness because of sins
pardoned. In verses 3, he tells of his
trouble and anguish while he hid his sin
and refused to confess it. In verse he
tells how he acknowledged his sins and re-
ceived pardon. In verse 6 he says that
''for this cause" that is, because of his ex.
perence of Gods mercy, every one should
be encouraged to pray for pardon, because
if he could be forgiven, no one need despair.
In verse he declares that God shall be his
hiding lace in the future. Then in verses
s 10, David, taught by Gods Spirit, tells US
how God will treat all His creatures here.
} He will guide them gently If they are will
ing; but If not, He will hold and restrain
them as with bit and bride. In verse II
, David bids all cody people rejoice in the
, Lord. Now let us talk about this guidance
of God. In this Psalm He offers to be our
, guide, and we will now ask and answer Q
few questions on this subject.
Is God good Guidea Certainly, the very
best we can have. Why's Because God
knows all things He knows the end OF the
way from the very beginning lisa. $40; Acts
1918. Nothing unexpected can happen to
Him, to surprise Him, for He knows it all
beforehand Thus He knows the difficulties
and danger Of the way. He also knows how
feeble and frai we are. Read Ps. 103:l4. So
:, He will not make the mistake Of overtaxlnG
= our strength. Besides, God has all power. NJ
enemy of ours can overcome Him II know
thou canst do every thing dob 1870. HI
is called s'The Lord God Omnipotent" REV
1876. Therefore Paul says truly: II car
: do all things through Christ, who strength
eneth me" Phil 4:l3). II we are weak
> He is able TO give rs the victory over 81
difficulties. ~aH
Is God willing to guide me gentlys Yes
= How can be surc. Of thisl Because HI
. loves me. All the Bible tells me Of His love
= 1t even says: "God Is love" II He CAV
: His Son TO die FOR us, does not that Prov
. that He loves usi Read John 4:l0; als'
q Romans S:32 How fully these prove God''
!, love tous..- Even His thoughts towards Vi
? !. are "thougtIts Of peace and not Of evil
|, Tier. 29:ll; also Ps. l03:l3, ~. But ou
lesson tells US of the joyful way Of peac'
!. through which He will guide us. In trouble