The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-10-16

LESSON ~, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 10.

memory verses. l-t-bOiueh IeAt'
Ps. ii. 10 Commentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. VI. stearns.
copyright, 1908 by American Press Association.
This also is written by the Holy
Spirit, as David said in some of his last
words as the sweet psalmist of Israel,
"rhe Spirit of the Lord spake by me,
and His word was in my tongue" Oh
Sam. xiii, l, p. See also Acts /, 16;
iv, %. If we would honor God and be
blessed by Him we must not only be-
lieve that all Scripture was written 10y
the Holy Spirit, but that it was all
written for our profit or Tim. iii. 16,
II; Rom. XIV, A.. The occasion Of this
psalm is given TO us in what we might
call in our Bibles the preface to the
psalm, but which in the Hebrew
psalter is part of the psalm itself and
numbered rs verses / and ., making
the whole psalm consist of twenty-one
instead of nineteen verses. The same
David whom God appointed a king and
a prophet proved himself to be very
great sinner. He did not in this sur
prise God. for God knew him thorough
as the only human material God can
get TO work with is sinful, He takes
what He pleases and magnifes Ills
grace in such as we are, showing forth
in greater or less degree our utter sin
fulness and His amazing grace and
love. The Holy Spirit shows forth all
that is in man without respect of per-
sons. Nothing is covered or made light
of; but man, being fully exposed, is
shown how he may be cleansed from
all his sin by Gods own provision.
God is all mercy and loving kindness
and long suffering, but He is just and
cannot tolerate sin, even though He
bear long with the sinner (EX. XXXiv,
6, y. He has provided, at infinite cost,
eternal redemption, including the for
giveneSs of all sins, for every truly
penitent sinner, but there must be on
the part of the sinner honest confession
anu ipi NtlhiliS VI an Eilis W. oiN ga ~
nature sinners This is set forth gen
orally in verse >. with which compare
Eph. ii. 3; Rom. iii, %. David's con-
fession of sin is seen in verses 3 and 4,
and his cry for cleansing and restora-
ton in the greater part of the rest of
the psalm. The majority of people do
not seem to think that they need for
giveness. They have no conviction of
sin, no sense of guilt before God, no
conscious need Of a Saviour.
A deep conviction of sin is great
blessing, for only thus can we appreci-
ate our Saviour and His great salvation.
In verse David doubtless has refer
ence to the ceremonial cleansing of the
leper Q.ev xiv, 40, the hyssop being
used to sprinkle the blood. whittier
than snow" takes us to lisa. j, IS, and
makes us think also of our Lords
clean every whit John xiii, 10. That
which David asked for that all might
be blotted out, verses l and 9, we are
assured of in lisa. xiii, %; Xiv, %; l
John 10. What wonderful redemp-
ton ii is that blOts out all sin and
makes the sinner to appear before God
as if he had never sinned, and the help
less sinners only part is TO receive
what God has provided AS one has
said in John iii, 16, God does all the
loving and all the giving, and man
does the receiving. When q child of
God commits sin he does not cease to
be child of God any more than when
child i'm a family, being disobedient,
ceases to be child in that family, but
the JOY and fellowship are broken, and
the parents are grievcd. David does
not pray that salvation may be re-
stored TO him, but the joy of salvation
6, ~. That God has rebellious chill
dren is seen in lisa. 1, ., and the reason
of 1t is in the carnal mind, which is en-
nifty against God, Is not subject and
never can be Rom. will, y, therefore
the need Of clean heart and a right
spirit, which only God can put in us
and which He has promised. See Eek.
xxxvi, 24-2S. and remember that what
God will in due time do for all Israe,
He will surely do for His own now.
There are, alas, SO few who seem to
want clean heart now. The aim Of
many seems to be to get all the selfish
enjoyment they can now, hoping that
somehow by the mercy Of God they
may reach heaven at last. Contrast
David's desire in seeking again the Joy
of Gods salvation-that his tongue
might sing aloud Of Gods righteous
ness. that his month might show forth
Gods praise, that transgressors might
know the ways of God and sinners be
converted unto Him Q3-15).
There are many who still think, as
did the hypocrites in Israel, that Gods
favor can be won by our gifts or so
called sacrifices. not understanding that
God has provided the only and all suffi-
Gent sacrifice and is ready to give the
full benefit to every truly broken and
contrite heart 06, 10. There is no
Saviour for the proud and self right
eous. but for those who know them
selves to be lost and helpless sinners
there is q Saviour and a full redemp-
lion. From the first sacrifice of Gen.
90, - leo ,.x.x trtrI