The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-10-14
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International lie json Comments For Octo.
Der Is.
Subject: David's Confession, Psa. 81, liz
Golden Text Psa. 81, 10 Memory Verses,
l4-Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

- SVimSutuTJ Ou tue DdyS
Lesson,
!. Dayid's prayer for forgiveness Tvs.
LAY. l, 2. Have mercy" etc. Or, be
gracious unto me. Mark the gradation in
the three words expressing Gods love: /.
Have mercy denotes that Kind of affection
which is, expressed by moaning over an OBJ.
denotes large and liberal disposition to
goodness and compassion. 3. Tender mer.
cies denote the most tender pity of which
the nature is susceptible. "Transgres-
sions." Sin is described, as in Ex. 3i7,
in three different aspects, as transgression
dered mean respectively, ~ detection
from God or rebellion against Him; (2)
the perversion of right, depravity of con.
duct; (3) error, wandering from the right
way, missing the mark in life. "Blot out
go. wash !. cleanse" The removal of
different expressions, l.. Sin is regarded
as debt recorded in Gods book which
needs to be blotted out. Q. Wash is fire.
quently used for ceremonial publications
Titus 800. 3. Cleanse suggests the com.
parison of sin with leprosy. This shows
that the sin is deep-seated and needs
thorough treatment.
8, 4. Il acknowledge" 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
!. He had ~ broken the seventh com
mandment; (2l caused the death of Uriah,
60 used deceit, az covered his sin, (5)
hardened his heart, (6) dshonored his
family (7) injured his friends, (S) weak
ened his kingdom. Thus no sin ever stands
alone, but each single transgression is the
mother Of many" Against Thee, Thee
only, All sin, even that by which man
may be most grievously injured, is sin
against God. God alone was greater than
the king. and to God alone David. as king
was responsible. "Mightest be justified"
etc. From the relation of all souls to God
every 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.
H. David's confidence in God Tvs. 5-S).
8; g., WAS, shapen." David means here
that he was born with a sinful nature. See
Eph. 2:3. This confession is not made as
an excuse for his sins, but in utter self.
abasement. David bewails the depravity
within, and thus abaudons all hope of re.
storing himself. Thou desrest truth"
David admits that he is the very opposite
of what he should be. God desires truth
will. Truth here takes the sense of integ-
rlty and uprightness and wisdom that of
the knowledge of God.
:: s. with Hyssop." The figure here
is borrowed from the ceremonial of the
law Hyssop was a common herb which
frequently grew on walls. This was used
as sprinkler. especially in the rites for
cleansing the ;eper and purifying the un
Clean. DR.. Clark calls attention to the
fact that in the case of the leper the cere-
mony OF sprinking was not performed un.
til the leper had been healed, and the
IprlarpI 10 tho rao,,1a +h.t oh
was the case. This says Clarke, David
seems to have in full view, hence he re.
quests the Lord to show to the people
that he was accepted and ceansed."
Whittier than snow" The Lord is able
to take every element foreign to holiness
E. broken" A strong figure showing how
sense of Gods displeasure had, as it
were, crushed mis- bones and shattered his
whole frame. He had repented deeply.
III. David's prayer for clean heart
Tvs. 9.l2). 8, 10. Hide thy face" DO not
Thee. Create" "Mending will not avail;
my heart is altogether corrupted; it must
strongest known in the Hebrew for bring
ing into being that which did not before
exist, as. Gen. IL. Compare Eph. 2:lO;
6;l5." Clean heart" A sanctifed heart
feet in the love of God "a right spirit"
a steadfast, established spirit. fixed in its
allegiance to God. that could stand firm
and resist temptation.
admits the upright to His presence. and
they behold His face (psa. ll;7; 2:l2).
David knew that God would be justified
in removing His Spirit from him, but he
prays for mercy and asks that the divine
rejection might not follow in his case, as it
uphold here is to confirm. render perma:
nent. David desires that the restored
state be sustained and abiding This is the
point of the petition. But he has not in
himself the elements OF this stability.
God only, can restore the joys of saliva.
firm in this restored life. Free spirit"
See r. v. He desires perfect freedom of
spirit so he will easily and naturally do
such things as are right.
". David's resolve to employ his life
in Gods service Tvs. lS.l7). IS, il. "Will
| teach" Thus David would show forth
his gratitude for that renewal and estab-
lshment in righteousness for which he
ogonizes.' How he fulfilled his promise is
shown in some of his subsequent psalms.
See Psa. 32 40; lO3 which should be read
in this connection. From bloodguiltiness."
David no doubt had in view the death of
Uriah, His blood was crying for ven.
qeance against him and only God could
deliver him. "Thy righteousness" Gods
Righteousness is seen in His pardon to the
penitent as well as His punishment to
the impenitent.
lj-l7. Open thou" His lips had been
closed, for a guilty soul cannot speak the
praises of God but God could open them,
for the power to praise Alright is the gift
OF God. "Desirest not sacrifice" See r.
V. The law Of Moses made no provision
fnF hA nvnta ne
sins as David had committed. See Mum.
1880, 81. Forms and types would now
avail nothing Sacrifices OF God" Those
which God desires and approves are a
broken spirit and contrite heart; that
is, a heart truly penitent and humble.
viii always be shown the humble, penitent
seeker.
puckllnd chums With Kittens.