Catoctin clarion., 1903-10-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Le ;sOn Comments For Oct0.
Der Is.

Subject: Dayld's Confession, Psa. 81, l.l7->
Golden Text, Psa. 81, l0-Memory Verses,
l.4-Commentary on the Days
Lesson.
/ Davids PRAYER for forgiveness dt. S. (ys. ns
gracious unto me. Mark the grradation IN
The three words expressing Gods love: J.
Have mercy denotes that kind OF affection
which is expressed by moaning over an oD,
denotes large and liberal disposition to
goodness and compassion. 3. Tender mer'
lies denote the most tender pity of which
the nature is susceptible. "IransgreS-
sons." Sin is described, as in Ex. S4:7,
in three different aspects, as transgresslon,
iniquity, sin; the Hebrew words thus rem
dered mean respectively, ~ detection
from God or rebellion against him; w
the perversion of right. depravity, of con.
duct; (3) error, wandering from the right
way, missing the mark in life. "Blot out
wash cleanse" The removal of
guilt is also described by the use of three
different expressions. /. Sin Is regarded
as debt recorded in Gods book which
needs to be blotted out. 2. Wash is fire.
Juently used for ceremonial publications
(Titus $3.50. 3. Cleanse suggests the COM
parson of sin with leprosy. This shows
that the sin is deep-scatcd and needs
thorough treatment.
3, 4. 81 acknowledge" l know my
transgressions and freely confess, them.
The willingness to know sin is the first
step towards repentance. Observe also
that David uses the plural form as in verse
I. He had (D broken the seventh com.
nandment, (2) caused the death of Uriah,
(3) used deceit, () covered his sin, (5)
hardened his heart, (G) dshonored his
family 60 injured his friends, (S) weak
alone, but each single transgrcssion is the
mother of many" Against Thee, Thee
on,y." All sin, even that by which man
may be most gricvously injured, is sin
against God God alone was greater than
the king, and to God alone David, as king.
Gas responsible, "Mightest be justified,
etc. From the relation Of all souls TO God
very sin against man lies primarily against
God, so that God, who is the supreme
Judge of all human conduct, will be justi-
fed in His sentence upon the wicked.
David thus recognizes Gods justice, how.
ever severe the sentence may be.
II. navid's confidence in God Tvs. 5-S).
5. 6. "Was shapen.' David means here
that he was born with sinful nature. SEQ
Eph. 2:3 This confession is not made as
an excuse for his sins, but in utter self
apaScment. IaVld beWalIS tnc depraNlty
within, and thus abnndons all hope ot re,
storing himself Thou ,desirest truth"
David admits that he is the very opposite
of what he should be-. God desires truth
in the most secret springs of thought and
will. Truth here takes the sense OF intcg.,
rity and uprightness; and wisdom that OF
the knowledge of God.
7, 8. with Hyssop." The figure hero
is borrowed from the ceremonial OF the
law. Hvssop was a common herb which
frequently grew on walls. This was used
as a sprinkler, especially in the rites for
cleansing the icpcr ana purifying the un'
clear. Dr. Clark calls attention to the
fact that in the case of the !cpcr the cere-
mony of sprinkling was not performed I'M
til the leper had been healed, and the
ceremony declared to the people that such
was the case. This" saws Clarke, David
seems TO have in full view, hence he re.
quests the Lord to show to the people
that he was accepted and clcansed."
"Whitcr than SNOW The Lord IS able
to take every clement foreign to holiness
out Of our nature. See isa. LIS. Bones
49,. broken" A strong figure showing how
sense of Gods dispIcasurc bad. as it
we're, crushed his bones and shattered his
whole frame. He had rcpented deeply.
III. Dayid's PRAYER for a clean heart
Tvs. 9-l2). }, 10. Hide thy face" DO not