The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-04-28
rHE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


o God; and renew right spirit within me.-Pa
bl:10
DArr.--About 1884 b C.; after David had been
king more than twenty years.
PLACE IN BIBLE acknowledgements
history appears In Sam, chaps II and ~ The
same occasion called forth Psalm 80, which
naturally follows this Psalm
LESSON NOTES
I. Have mercy upon mes" Admit
ting everything, confessing all, and
humbling low before God he pleads for
mercy--mercy simple and pure, ,--noth-
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. It
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 a comfort-our God
hath multitude of mercies. If our
sins be in number as the hairs of our
head, Gods mercies are as the stars of
Heaven. my transsressions." Plural,
for they we're 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
Psalrnist 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"
5. 'For acknowledge my transgres-
sions:" Primarily this means: "For
know my transgression." No doubt It
is implied also that he publicly acLnowl.
edged, |. e. confessed his sin and guilt
in this matter. ''Is ever before me:"
That is, my sin plaques me. gives me no
rest, no peace.
4. Against Thee. Thee only, have /
sinned:" 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" i'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," /. 9.
when thou dost speak as Judge, decid-
ing, or, more definitely still. condemn
ing. "Be clear when thou judgest."
Be regarded Us doing, as being pure and
holy and right in the Judgment which
thou shalt make.
5. Behold, l 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
dicate the attainment of o 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 holi-
ness, heartrfdelity,, 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 most secret life Of conscience and
OF mind. "And In the hidden part thou
shalt make me to know wisdom:" Tho
Holy Spirit can write the law on our
heart, and that Is the sum of practical
wisdom.
Z. Purge toleanse) me with hyssop:"
A plant, not certainly identified, but
FUSED 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 deflement, not the one
which speaks merely Of cleansing the
surface. "Whiter than snow:" A nat
ural hyperbole denoting perfect purity.
g Make me to hear Joy and glad
nesss" Make him hear the voice of
forgiveness, which should give him
double joy-''joy and gladness. THAT
the bones which Thou hast broken NAV
rejoice:" The bones, rs constituting
tho 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 Il restored.
A pure heart, free from the taint and |
Of sin. "Renew .
right spirit<" A. steadfast spirit, ono
enat Is nrm In faath, not costly sw aged |
hither and thither through its own
or the blasts OF temptation,
and therefore also firm and constant in |
obedience.
II. Cast me not away from Thy pres
ence:" Throw me not away as worth
less; banish me not, like Cain. from Thy
lace and favor. ~Take not Thy Holy |
Spirit from me-" He knew well the ef-
tect OF the withdrawal of Gods Spirit
trom Saul How he grew worse and
wOrsc, how wretched he was In mind,
how he was continually working out
his terrible fate, till he fell before his
enemies Against this David prayed.
IL. Restores" For he had once
known 1t. and desires to feel II again.
The JOY Of Thy salvation" The Joy
which comes from knowing we are
saved by God uphold me with q free
'pirik" Ra*her, uphold me with (not
Thy" butt q willing spirit; that Is,