The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-17
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
Oct. -, 19O3-Psalm fl, 1-17-David's
Confession.

The fidelity of the Bible in the portrayal of
character is terrible. There is no varnish or
veneer. 1t pictures its heroes as they really are.
Incidentally here is evidence of inspiration. In
terested writer's of book of religion would GER
tainly have given us a series of ideally perfect
saints. The Bible gives us men of like passions
with ourselves. If the characters Of the Scrip
lures galaxy of impeccably holy persons
the Bible might make good reading for angels.
but Ii would be of comparatively small account
to men. On the contrary. it shows US our fell
lows striving and failing, SHINING, repenting. be-
lieving. We see men in the process, on the way.
to holiness. We have in the Bible the evolution
OF the saint. That is the very thing that makes
1t the helpful book 1t Is. Yet In its perversity.
infdelity has always considered this the most
vulnerable point in the Bible. 1t irrationally de-
mands that the characters of holy writ shall be
impeccable.
The character of David is fine exempifca-
fion of the principles just stated. His career is
as fascinating that of any knight Of chivalry.
He was the founder of civilization before that
of Greece born For twenty years the trend
Of his life upward in glory and goodness.
But in an evil hour this most brilliant man in
Hebrew history buried his glories in nocturnal
shame" From the pit in which he had fallen
we hear, as 1t were, his own voice In solemn
warning: Let him that thinketh he stanceth
take heed lest he fall!' George Herbert. in some
quaint lines, expresses the thought that, though
the Lord begirt round with care, yet all
these fences one cunning bosom sin blows clean
away.
God called David to repentance. He warned
before He struck He warned in order not to
strike Some quantity says, He sends His
preacher before His executioner" Every sinner
has his Nathan. Alas! Every sinner does not
heed his Nathan.
The sincerity of Davids repentance is absolute
He makes no plea of previous great services to
God and religion. He does not claim that rea-
sons of state make it impolitic. If not impossi-
bic. for him to go down to the mourners' bench
Down he goes. in sight of all his SUBJECTS.
His confession is explicit He deals in no plat
itudes, no inane generalities. He cries: MY
transgression.' My iniquityr' MY Sin!' This
evilr' my blood guiltinessi'
His penitence is not judicial 1t Is not COM
junction in view of penalty. There are no judi
ciai penalties for an Oriental despot Murder
and aultery on the part of king are mere pee
cadillos of which society does not take cogni-
zance much less the law David stands in no
awe of judicial consequences of his deeds.
He far and away ahead of the utter spir-
.tual obtuseness of the world three thousand
years ago. He knew what constituted the es-
sence Of it. what made sin exceedingly sinful
IT was in that it was done against the person
and holiness OF God. He was quite up to the
New Testament idea of sin when he cried:
Against Thee. Thee only. have 1 sinned and
done this evil in Thy sight"
AS he felt his sin directed against God. so he
felt the necessity OF divine forgiveness. and was
correspondngly happy when he received 1t. Back
of the specific SIN also he knows there IL per-
yeyted state Of the heart which has made that