The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-04-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Prayer OF the Penitest--Ps- 5:t-13
Lesson for May ., 1892

| DATE About 1901 Z C.: after David h.td been
| kinghore than lgcnty years
| PLACE IN BIBLE HIsToRY.-Correspoud
! history appears in sam, chaps II and II The
same occasion called forth Psalm g. which
| naturally follows this Psalm.
| LESSON NOTES.
| !. Have mercy upon me-" Admit
ting everything, confessing all, and
humbling low before God he pleads for
rnercy-mercy simple and pure,
ing else. There is no attempt to excuse
his sin, or to apologize for it; there is
no effort to vindicate his conduct: there
Is no complaint of the righteousness Of
that holy law which condemned him. IL
was guilt that was before his mind, guilt
only deep and dreadful guilt. Accord
ing to Thy loving Kindness" Here again
is tacit admission of the greatness of
his guilt, as requiring infinite mercy to
forgive it. According to the multitude
OF Thy tender mercies:" Men are great.
ly terrified at the multitude of their
sins, but here is comfort-our God
hath multitude Of mercies. If our
sins be in number as the hairs of our
head. Gods nercies are as the stars of
Heaven. "My transgressions." Plural,
for they were many.
2. Wash me thoroughly" or per-
haps, many times" The verb wash is
used of the washing of soiled garments.
And cleanse me from my SIM" This
is more general expression; as if the
Psalmist said: Lord, if washing will
not do, try some other process, if water
avails not, let fire, let anything, be
tried, so that may be purified"
g. For acknowledge my transgres-
sions:" Primarily this means: "For /
know my transgression. No doubt it
is implied also that he publicly aclSnowl.
edged, i. e. confessed his sin and guilt
in this matter. SIS ever before me-"
That is, my sin plaques me, gives me no
rest, no peace.
4. Against Thee, Thee only have
sinned:" 1.-The word only is striking,
considering how David had cruelty in
jured his fellow. men, and the terrible
results of his guilt" THAT thou may
est be justified !. e., make this fullest
possible confession of my sins as espe.
cially against Thee, so that Thou mayest
be indicated in the severest infections
upon me. "When thou speakest," l. e.
when thou dost speak as Judge, decid.
ing, or, more definitely still. condemn.
ing. BE clear when thou judgest. y
Be regarded as doing, as being pure and
holy and right in the judgment which
thou shalt make.
S. Behold was shapen in iniqui.
ty," etc. David does not mean to
throw the blame of his sins upon an.
other and thus to extenuate his guilt.
6. "Behold:" The word is used to in
dictate the attainment of newer and
higher knowledge, as if it had come
with something of surprise on the mind
or were seen with new brightness
Thou desirest truth in the inward
parts" Reality, sincerity, true holt
ness, heart-tidelity, these are the de.
mands of God. Inward parts" The
reins, the seat, according to the He
brews, of the deepest feelings of the
heart. The innermost consciousness.
The mast secret life of conscience and
OF mind. And in the hidden part thou
shalt make me to know wisdom:" The
Holy Spirit can write the law on our
heart, and that is the sum of practical
wisdom.
Z. purge (cleanse) me with hyssop:'
A plant, not certainly identified, but
used as convenient means of sprink.
ling ''Wash me-" Of the two Hebrew
words for washing, the one is here used
which describes the cleansing of clothes
which have been pervaded and stained
through by the defilement, not the one
WHICH speaks merely of cleansing the
surface. "Whiter than snow" A nat
ural hyperbole denoting perfect purity
8. Make mo to hear JOY and glad
ness" Make him hear the voice OF
forgiveness, which should give him
double joy-"joy and gladness. THAT
the bones which Thou hast broken may
rejoice:" The bones, as constituting
the strength and framework of the
body.
10. Create" A word always used
strictly of the creative power of God
Create in me clean heart" A holy
heart in which Thy image is restored.
A pure heart, free from the faint ano
consciousness of sin. "Renew 9
right spirit" A steadfast spirit, one
that is firm in faith, not easily swa yet
hither and thither through it's owr
| weakness or the blasts of temptation
and therefore also firm and constant il
obedience.
IL. Cast me not away from Thy pres
ence:" Throw me not away as worth
less; Danish me not, like Cain, from Thy
face and favor. "Take not Thy Hol,
Spirit from me-" He knew well the eff
|, feet of the withdrawal of Gods Spin
from Saul. How he grew worse anc
. worse, how wretched he was in mind
} how he was continually working ou
, his terrible fate, till he fell before hi
: enemies. Against this David prayed.
u. RESTORE" For he had one
known it, and desires to feel it again
THE JOY of Thy salvation:" The 10,
which comes from knowing we ar
saved by God. uphold me with fire,
spirit" Rather, uphold me with tno
THY" bu:) willing spirit; that is
make my spirit willing. A willin
spirit is one which voluntarily an
cheerfully takes up the service of Goo
Is. "Tlen:" And not till then. "Will
teach traasgressors Thy ways" The He
brew implies a longing. would fai
teach transgressors Thy ways Such
desire is one of the surest signs of spir
itual repentance.