The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-08-21


from which it is taken is the concluding
chapter of a story of sin and it's deplora-
BILE consequences. Sin had severed fell
lowship with God, and terminated ac-
ceptable and efficient service. In an un-
guarded moment, while yielding to the
ease ard luxury of his royal state, he
slipped the traces of uprightness and
bolted off into the enticing meadows of
sin. He gratif1ed his desires, but at
fearful cost. He sacrificed his peace of
mind and heart, and destroyed his power
for good. AS the days came and went
he groped in the dark. while he sought
to find light in himself and tried to JUS
tify himself by the conduct of the kings
of the nations about him. That which
he had done was only the common prac-
tice of kings and rulers of his day. No
one in the kingdom dared call into ques-
tfon the acts of the great King David.
He was not in danger OF punishment at
the hands of the nation. But, notwith-
standing this, those were days of dark
ness to the king who had fellowshiped
with God and performed His service.
The distress and disQuiet and darkness
of those days can be realized only in
the light of David's open confession and
his yearning appeal
II OW common is the experience of
L David among Christians, of sinful
indulgence, of separation from God.
Days of darkness come The inspiration
for service has died out. The sense of
Joy in the salvation of the Lord has been
lost. There may be the perfunctory dis
charge of religious duties, even as there
was probably with David during the
period of his sinfulness and separation
from God. OH how often the Christian
goes on in this condition! No wonder
he gets no Joy out of his service. No
wonder there is dissatisfaction and dis
couragement. No wonder that, if he
fails to go to God with full confession
of sin against Him, and pleads not for
the cIeansed heart and the new milling
of the Spirit, gradually he gets farther
and farther away in the darkness and
finally gives up even the outward dis
play of devotion and service to the Lord
and His cause. Nearly every Christian
has the experience of slipping from the
blessed yoke which he is sharing with
the Christ who has redeemed him, and
of wandering off and browsing in the
attractive fields of the worlds pleasures
and sins. but so few, comparatively, are
like David in humble confession and ear
nest pleading in faith for cleansing and
reinstatement. There is a great deal of
unyoking, but so little yoking up again
The Christian gets out of the harness
which enables him to do effective serv-
fee for the Lord, but he does not always
get back into the harness again. AS we
have said, he goes on with his accus-
toned religious duties and devotions, but
the inspiration and joy of service are
lost because of unconfessed sin and sep
aration from God. No amount of sub
sequent service and faithfulness can
cover up the sin that is fostering in the
heart. or restore to working fellowship
with God.
7 T TAKES a heart that is cleansed
L from all sin and hands which have
been washed from iniquity to render
acceptable service to God. In the twen-
ty-fourth Psalm David asks: "Who
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord
or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands and a pure
heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfuIly''
This was the spirit and purpose of
Jesus teaching when He said: 'Tf
thou bring thy gift to the altar, and
there rememberest that thy brother
hath aught against thee, leave there |
thy gift before the altar, and go thy |
way; first be reconciled to thy brother, |
and then come and offer thy gift" The !
gift on the altar is representative of |
Christian service, but before it can be |
accepted there must be a cleaning up !
of old scores; wrongs must be righted; !
confessions must be made; sins must T.
be cleansed; hands must be purified. 1t |
was the consciousness of this which |
bowed a great and mighty king in the |
dust of confession and repentance, and |
made him plead the prayer of our text:
Create for me a clean heart, o God; |
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. |
Cast me not away from Thy presence,
and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy sal
and uphold me with a willing
spirit" Why? Listen: Then will l |
teach transgressors Thy ways; and
sinners shall be converted unto Thee"
David was conscious that his sin had
separated him from God and untitled
him for service. He was no longer able
to teach transgressors the ways of the
Lord. nor lead sinners into the light
Of salvation. And instead of persisting
IN the effort of a Christian life and
service which would be painful, and
unsatisfactory and unfruitful. be