The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-10-21
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
October rs.
Subject: Davld's Joy Over Forgiveness, Psalm
32-Golden Text, Psa. 81, Memory
Verses, 81 - Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

the Days Lesson.
1. Confession and forgiveness. Tvs. 1-5l.
|. .. Blessed" "ln the Hebrew this
word is plural and an exclamation, thus,
| oh. the bessednesses' Only q forgiven
"Transgression. A going out OF the way,
passing a, given, boundary, doing. what is
prohibited. Forgiven" Lifted off so
that the, pardoned sinner is eased. Of a bur.
den and enjoys pardon. Sin" Missing
the mark, falling short Of a given point.
| Sin is the transgression Of the law. rs
covered Sin makes us loathespme, filthy,
and abominable in the sight of God, and
| utterly unfit for communion with Him. 1t
must be covered by God. When it is par.
doned it is covered by divine mercy from
justice. 'lmputeth." Chargeth not to his
debt of punishment but pardons them.
mo guile" No deceit, no false estimate
! of himself nor insincerity before God
| Sin is the only cause of misery, and for
| giveness is the beginning OF u sinners
happiness; -, it,, n, q,
humbled myself and confessed my sin. 1t
seems that David before Nathan came to
him had often been exceedingly tortured
| in his conscience on account OF the crimes
he had committed y Sam. ll:21; l2:l, 81,
vet reluctance to humble himself before
you, OT 10 Dt tbuslutIcu d ny
men. led him to keep silence. MY bones
waxed old" my spirts failed and the
! strength of my body decaycd." Roaring"
Moaning or groaning because of the con.
| tinual horrors of conscience and sense OF
| Gods wrath. This shows the depth OF his
| repentance.
/. "Thy hand" Gods correcting hand
whereby He scourgeth His children, bring.
| ing a remembrance of guilt. MY moisture
is turned" There is a spiritual drought
when the soul is in anguish instead of
refreshing seasons from the presence OF the
| Lord. David lived in a country where
parching heats. and saturating moisture al.
! ternate, and the valleys, sometimes green
and fruitful and fragrant, were at other
! times desolate and parched. 1t is quite
possible that sin in. Dayid's case, as in so
many others, brought physical illness as
| result. "Selah." This is used in Hebrew
| poetry and music to indicate pause; to
emphasize the truth and express devout
response of the heart unto God. 1t indi.
| Gated also that at that point the writer
had been inspired and taught some new
lesson. 1t sometimes indicates change
in the subject.
5. II Acknowledged E. thou forgav.
est" 1t was after much anguish and strug.
Cling that David was brought to confession,
but his reward was abundant, for mercy
was extended. He had covered his sin un..
successfully, vet when he uncovered it God
covered. it etfectuallly. Where before before he he
soul he now felt forgiveness OF his sins
and the mercy of the Lord extended.
II. Confidence in God Tvs. GID. 9.
"For this" Because the Lord had so
graciously answered his prayer, every one
that was goodlyI SHOULD !? be eneoqraged nc to to
Deut. l:29. Because Jehovah has proved
Himself so ready to hear even the sinner,
the pious are urged to cry to Him before
some sudden flood of temptation has made
them lose His presence; so shall the great
waters in which the psalmist sank be pre-.
vented from ever reaching them. "Mayest
be found" Literally, "the time of find.
ing" it may Just as readily refer to the
finding of forgiveness as to the finding OF
Jehovah. Great waters" In this case
there may be particular allusion to the
interval between the sin and punishment,
during which the confessions and impor..
tunate petitions Of the sinner, may avail
to arrest the judgments which must in.
evitably follow. Violent trials Affections
and temptations shall not overcome the
soul who prays Gcceptably and trusts i'm
plictly; but the sinner who persists in
iniquity shall certainly be swept away by
the floods of divine judgment, and SO for.
ever perish.
7, s. "Hiding place." City OF refuge,
protection against. enemies. Preserve
me-" Keep me from being overcome,
Compass, me-" Surround ne re as with
liverance." The free spirit poured forth
songs of praise and thanksgiving on all
occasions thus admitting no place for
evil words or thoughts. A constant re-
membrance OF pardon bestowed was
protection against further sin. Instruct
thee" A gracious promise given to a
humble, pardoned soul, securing his de-
velopment in the ways of righteousness.
God Himself being teacher. 81 will guide"
Exercise the most watchful, accurate and
personal care.
8. "As the horse etc, Do not be stub
horn or heOdstrong like the horse or mule.
A different class is here addressed, that
cannot be trusted upon the ground of
reason or moral Obligation. and must be
governed by force. "Bt and bride" That
is. by harsh and forcible means. Our rea-
son and wisdom ought to do for us what
not come near" The r. v. gives the cor.
! rect rendering. Without bit and bride
the animals referred to will not stay within
reach. ii man will not draw near to God
and obey Him of his own free will, he low
ers himself to the level OF brute (lsa l:3),
and must expect, to be treated accordingly
10. ii. MANY sorrows" etc. Sin and
misery go together. Those who are insub.
ordinate God will curb and chasten by
afliction, both to humble them and show
them His power. "This verse teaches that
events are good or bad according to the
goodness or badness Of the man they af-
feet; that the riches of rich worldlng are
bound to be curse and to bring many
sorrows, while to the humble trustful soul
comes great blessing" Mercy shall
compass" He shall be surrounded with
mercy, as one is surrounded by the air or
by the sunlight. He shall find mercy and
favor everywhere-at home, abroad; by
day, by night; in, society, in solitude; in
sickness, in health; in life, in death; in
time, IN eternity. He shall walk amid
mereiess; he shall die amid mercies; he
shall live in better World in the midst
shout" How wonderful that such
exultation may follow such iniquity and
rcmorse! There must be sincere sorrow,
| full confession, earnest prayer, simple
| faith and hoiest purpose to cease from sin.
! Then there is full remission and a freedom
of spirit. sense OF deliverance and Of
divine mercy that causes all within the
ransomed nature to rejoice. This is the
essence of JOY unspeakable and full Of
glory. Compare ! Pet. LIS.