Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-10-17
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lc son Comments For Oct0.
Der Is.

Subject: David's Confession, Pisa. 81, liz
Golden Text, Pisa. 81, !0-Memory Verses,
i-4-Ccmmeatary on the Days
Lesson.
7. David's prayer for forgiveness Tvs.
LAY. !, .. 'Haye mercy" erc. Or, be
gracious unto me. Mark the gradation in
the three words expressing. Gods love. l.
Have mercy denotes that kind of affection
which is expressed by moaning over an OBJ
ject we love and pity: .. Loving kindness
denotes large and liberal disposition to
goodness and compassion. 9. Tender mer-
ciies denote the most tender pit. of which
sions." Sin is described, as in Ex. 34:7,
in three different aspects, as transgression,
iniquity, sin; the Hebrew words thus rem
dered mean respectively, ~ detection
from God or rebellion against Him; (2)
the perversion of right. depravity, of con-
way, missing the mari. in life blot out
guilt is also described by the use of three
different expressions. l. Sin is regarded
as a debt recorded in Gods book which
needs, to be blotted out. 2; Wash is fire.
Titus $3.50. 3. Cleanse suggests the COM
parison Of sin with leprosy. This shows
that the sin is desp-seated and needs
thorough treatment.
8. a. II acknowledged" know, my
transgressions and freely confess. them.
step towards repentance. Observe also
that David uses the plural form as in verse
l. He had q broken the seventh COM
mandment. (2) caused the death OF Uriah,
(3) used deceit, a. covered his sin, o.
hardened his heart. (e) dishonored his
ened his kingdom. Thus no sin ever stands
alone, but leach 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
the king, and to God alone David, as king.
was responsible. ':AIightest 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 JUST.
fed in His sentence upon the. wicked.
David thus recognizes Gods justice, how
ever severe the sentence may be.
5, 6. "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
within, and thus abandons all hope of re.
storing himself. '"Thou desirest truth"
David admits that he is the very opposite
Of what he should be-. God desires truth
in the most secret springs Of thought and
will. Truth here takes the sense Of integ-
rrity and upright.ness; and wisdom that OF
the knowledge Of God.
7. 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 a sprinkler, especially in the rites for
clean. DR.. Clark calls attention to the
fact that in the case of the leper the cere-
mony Of sprinkling was not performed I'M
| til the leper had been healed, and the
ceremony declared to the people that such
was the case. This" says Clarke, David
quests the Lord to show to the people;
"Whiter than snow" The Lord IS able
| to take every clement foreign to holiness
out of our nature. See lisa. lis. Bones
-. broken" A strong figure showing how
a sense Of Gods displeasure, had, as it
whole frame. He had repented deeply.
Tvs. s-l2). 9, 10. Hide thy face" Do ono not
longer gaze upon,, my sins; cast them behind
Thee. Create" '.Mending will not avail;
m hsdet s0thss %"rd tsstd MI" ss
strongest known in the Hebrew for bring
ing into being that which did not before
| exist, as Gen. IL. Compare Eph. 2:l0;
4:24; and new creation 2 Cor. 5:l7;, Gal:
6:l5.." ."Clean heart. a sanctified heart
feet in the love Of Cod "a right spirit
A steadfast, established spirit. fixed in its
allegiance to God. that could stand firm
and resist temptation.
II. r.. Cast me not away" etc. God
admits the upright to His presence. and
David knew that God would be justified
in removing His Spirit fror, him, but he
prays for mercy and asks that the divine
rejection might not follow in his case as it
did with Saul: Uphold me-" The idea of
uphold here is to confirm, render perma.
10 David dssss , h the restored red
himself the elements of this stability.
God only. can "restorc the joys OF saliva.
tion,". and He alone can cause him to stand
firm in this restored life. Gree 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. 1910. Is, IA. "Will
I teach" Thus David would show forth
his gratitude for that renewal and estab-
agonizes. How he fulfilled his promise is
| shown in some of his SUBSEQUENT psalms.
| See Pisa. 50; 40; l03, which should be read
in this connection. From bloodguiltiness."
| From the punishment of my sin: Here
| David no doubt had in view the death Of
| Uriah. His blood was crying for ven
geance 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.
l5-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
| for the forgiveness OR expiration of such
sins as David had committed. See Num-.
1880, 81. Forms and types would now
avail nothing. Sacrifices Of Cod" Those
which God desires and approves are a
broken spirit and coatrite heart; that
is, heart truly pcnitent and humble.
Such heart will never be cast out. Mercy
will always be shown the humble, penitent
seeker.