The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-10-22
GOLDEN TENT.-Bicsscd IL he whose
trnnsg rcssinn is forgiven. w hOsc nin


OF THINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
tn blessed of Forgiv, ness.......Ps. 32:l,2
So'.r" Turned TO JOy..............ls 3-.o-0
HoI for All in the Psamists Expert
ehctS ...........................i o-.o-!l
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The connection between this lesson
though it is Cne of thought rather than
OF historical incident. Our last lesson
included the story Of David's sin and
repen ance, and to impress its lessons
more Strongly upon us, the marvellous
prayer If tn, bro en- heart in the Fifty
first ps: m. Frnm that study OF the eX-
perience # one who had sinned and re-
pented We go or TO this study OF the
blessedness of forgiveness and the way
in which one may find it.
Cps. 80: |, q Acre are three words
used here for sin. and. while in general
synonymous. each a. shade of mean
ing not in tt other. "Transgression."
"A breaking lonso from cod" disregard
ing His will. Sin" This word In the
original suggesi 4 missing OF the mark
for sin is terr bic bluHder and failure
as we'll as a terrible wrorS. "IniQuty."
A distortion or perycrsion. A f.r face.
distorted, becomes hideous. and = coed
thing perverted may become the worst
OF bad things. Whose sin is cover d."
The figure suggests that sin is "omethirs
horrible to look upon, and tfat GCd
mercifully draws the veil over T. I'm
,toth jpt p',a
his sin against him. mo guile" 10
insincerity; no pretending.
Tvs. 3-5.) when I kept sllerc..'"
Sullenly trying to ignore his sin. NV
bones wasted away" No ran cen defy
his conscience with impunity. This is
leaf from the personal experience of the
psalmist, and we know what he means
from our own personal experience. THY
hand was heavy upon me-" The hard
of conscience is the hand Of God. It f.
laid upon the sinner not primarily 10
make him suffer, but to make him re-
form THE drought of summer" \
guilty conscience checks all soul growth
and contracts and shrivcls and dries W
life rs the blasts of the hot south winds
dry up all vegetation in a midsummer
drought Note that the psalmist speaks
Of having had regret and sorrow all this
time. but it was not repentance. What
was the difference?
Alexander Maclarcn has said that this
psalm is "a chart of one mans pa'h
from the depths;o The heights, and ayaiis
to guide all" The change comes In
verse :. It was the breaking down oftho
stubborn, defiant spirit. the dropping OF
the fiction of goodness when there was
no goodness. and the humble opening
of the heart to the Father in confession.
Thou forgavest the niquity." God Is
ever ready to forgive and to consider a
man as separated from his sin when He
sees that the man has with all his heart
put his sin away. God cannot consider
n mans sin put away until 1t is. He
cannot deal in fiCtions. Recall here
Christ's teaching in the parable Of the
prodigal son.
Tvs. 6-11.) For this" Because Of
this: therefore. Every one that Is
godly." Those who are true to God and
strive to do His will--for the best Chris
tians need still to pray for forgiveness.
when thou mayest be found" The
r. V. marginal reading is in the time of
finding out (sin). This is possible. The
preferred reading suggests that there Is
a time when it is too late-not because
God is not ready to forgive, but because
man has lost the capacity to become "a
new man" 81 will instruct thee, etc"
''It is usual to suppose that the psalmist
still speaks, but surely 4 will counsel
thee with mine eye upon thee does not
fit human lips. Alexander Maclaren
The psalmist represents Jehovah as
speaking the reassuring words Of verse
g. Verse suggests the reason why
many sorrows shall be to the wicked"
The psalm ends with shout Of Joy
Every tear sparkles like diamond in
the sunshine of pardon, and he who be-
gins with the lowly cry for forgiveness
will end with lofty songs Of Joy, and be
made. by Gods guidance and Spirit,
righteous and upright in heart"
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
The one whom God has forgiven is in
deed blessed. His is the peace which
passeth understanding.
Hidden sin is hidden pain. There is
no comfort for those who transgress
Gods holy laws.
Repentance and confession are sure to
bring relief from the pain and torture
OF sin.
For those who flee to God for pardon,
there are songs instead Of sighs and
groans.