Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-10-24
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
Lesson Comments For
October Is.
Subject: Davld's Joy Over Forgiveness. Psalm
32-GoIdeu Text, Pisa. 81, l-memory -
Verses, 81 Commentary or
tteoDay's Lesson.

Verses, 5'7-Commenfary or
thesDay's Lesson.
l, 2. blessed" I'm the Hebrew this
word is plural and an exclamation, thus,
oh, the blessednesses!' Only forgiven
man can know. the delights of pardon"
'Transgression." A going out OF the way,
g9 sbtsds given sS%ada & fGas w III
that the rardoned sinner is eased, Of bur-
den and enjoys pardon. 'Sin." Missing
the mark, falling short of a given point.
Sin is the transgression of the law. Is
covered" Sin makes US loathesome, filthy.
and abominable in the sight Of God, and
must be covered by God. When it is par
doned it is covered by divine mercy from
justice. "Imputeth." Chargeth not to his
account, "does not require for sins the
debt of punishment" but pardons them.
"No guile" No deceit, no false estimate
of himself, nor insincerity before God.
Sin is the only cause Of misery, and for
3. "When I kept silence" Before !
humbied myself and confessed my sin. It
seems that David before Nathan came to
him had often been exceedingly, tortured
in his conscience on account OF the crimes ne
vet reluctance to humble himself before
God, or to be considered criminal by
men, led him to keep silence. MY bones
waxed old" my spirits failed and the
strength of my body decayed.' Roaring
Moaning or grooming because of the con.
Gods wrath. This shows the depth Of his
1. "Thv hand" Gods correcting hand
whereby He scourgeth His children, bring
ing 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. It is quite
possible that sin in Dayid's case; as in SO
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 Gcd. It indi-
Gated also that at that point the writer
had been inspired and taught some new
in the subject.
s.. 81 acknowledged 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 I'M.
eoSersd Il s wS he Wsge eoTe Ge
had felt hardness of heart and distress Of
soul he now felt forgiveness of his sins
and the mercy Of the Lord extended.
II. Confidence in God Tvs. GID. 6.
''For this" Because the Lord had so
Rraciously answered his prayer, every one
pray. "In time" Compare. lisa. 55:6:
Deut. 1929. 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
water; in which the RAalmi tS sank be pre-
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 Il particular allusion to the
interval between the sin and punishment,
during which the confessions and impor..
to arrest the judgments which must in.
evitably follow. Violent trials, Affections
and temptations shall not overcome the
soul who prays acceptably and trusts i'm
plicitly; but the sinner who persists in
iniquity shall certainly be swept away by
the floods of divine judgment, and SO for
ever perish.
7, 8; Hiding place" City Of refuge,
me-" Keep me from being overcome.
Compass me-" Surround me as with a
wall; enclose me within; Songs Of de.
songs of praise and thanksgiving Oh 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
velopment in the ways of righteousness;
God Himself being teacher. 81 will guide"
Exercise the most watchful, accurate and
o. GAS the horse" etc. Do not he stub.
horn or headstrong like the horse or mule.
A different class is here addressed, that
reason or moral OBLIGATION. and must be
governed by force. "Bit and Bride" That
is, by. harsh and forcib!e means. Our rea-
son and wisdom ought to do for us what
the bit does for the mule elise they will
not come, near" The r. V; gives the cor
the animals referred to will not stay within
reach. If man will not draw near to God
and obey Him OF his own free will. he low
rs him: elf to the level of brute lisa. l:3),
and must expect to he treated accordingly
and disciplined by the judgments of God
10, II. "N1any sorrows" etc. Sin and
misery go together. Those who are insub.
| ordinate God will curb and chasten by
aAlics;,n, both to humble them and show
them His power. 'This verse teaches that
events are good Or Dad according to the
goodness or badness Of the man they af-
| feet: that the riches of rich worldling are
bound to be. a curse and to bring many
sorrows, while to the humble. trustful soul
comes a 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
mercies; he shall die amid mercies; he
shall live in better world in the midst
| of eternal mercies. "Be glad rejoice
:. . Shout" How wonderful that such
cxu.tation may follow such iniquity and