Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-10-23
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
October Is.
Subject: David's Joy Over Forgiveness, Psalm
N-Golden Text Pisa. 81, Memory
Verses, 81 - Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

l-2. Blessed" 'In 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,
passing a given boundary, doing what is
prohibited. Forgiven" Lifted off SO
that the, pardoned sinner is easedi, Of a bur
den and enjoys pardon. Sin" Missing
the mark, falling short of given point.
Sin is the transgression of the law. rs
covered" Sin makes US loathesome, filthy,
and abominable in the sight of God, and
utterly unfit for communion with Him. 1t
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
giveness is the beginning of a sinners
8. "When I kept silence" Before l
humbled myself and confessed my sin. 1t
seems that David before Nathan came to
him had often been exceedingly tortured
in his conscience on account of the crimes
he had committed q Sam. ll:27; l2:l, 81,
vet reluctance to humble himself before
God, or to be considered a 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 groaning because OF the con-
tinual horrors of conscience and sense of
Gods wrath. This shows the depth of his
repentance.
4. "Thy 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. 1t Is quite
possible that sin in David's case, as in so
many others, brought physical illness as
result. "Selah." This is used in Hebrew
poetry and music to indicate pause; to
emphasize the truth and express a devout
RESPONSE of the heart unto God. 1t indi-
Gated also that at that point the writer
had been inspired and taught some new
lesson. 1t sometimes indicates a change
in the subject. Ill.,. r...
est" It 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 un.
successfully, yet when he uncovered 1t God
covered it effectually. Where before he
had felt hardness of heart and distress OF
soul he now felt forgiveness of his sins
and the mercy of the Lord extended.
'For this" Because the Lord had so
eraciously answered his prayer, every one
that was goodly should be encouraged to
prav. ON a time" Compare lisa. 55:6:
Deut. 4:29. 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
waters in which the psalmist sank be pre-
vented from ever reaching them. "Mayest
be found" Literally, "the time OF lind
ing" it may Just as readily refer to the
finding OF forgiveness as to the fndlng OF
Jehovah. Great waters" In this case
there may be a particular allusion to the
interval between the sin and punishment,
during which the confessions and impor-,
tunate petitions of the sinner may avail
to arrest the judgments which must in
evitably follow Violent trials, Affections
and temptations shall not overcome the
soul who prays acceptably and trusts inn
plicitly: but the sinner who persists IN
iniouity shall certainly be swept away by
the floods of divine judgment, and so for
ever perish.
7, S. Gliding place" City Of refuge,
protection against enemies. preserve
Compass me-" Surround me as with. a
wall; enclose me within. "Songs of de-
liverance." The free spirit poured forth
songs of praise and thanksgiving on all
occasions, thus admitting no place for
evil words or thoughts. A constant re-
membrane of pardon bestowed was
protection against further sin. Instruct
thee" A gracious promise given to
humble, pardoned soul, securing his de-
velopment in the ways of righteousness,
God Himself being teacher. 81 will guide,
Exercise the most watchful, accurate and
personal care.
0. GAS the horse" etc. Do not be stub.
horn or headstrong like the horse or mule
A different class is here addressed, that
cannot be trusted upon the ground OF
reason or moral obligation, and must be
governed by force. "Bit and bride" That
is, by harsh and forcible 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
rect rendering. Without bit and bride
reach II man will not draw near to God
and obey Him of his own free will, he low
RS himself to the level of brute lisa. l:3),
and must expect to he treated accordingly
and disciplined by the judgments of God
10 10, II. "Many sorrows" etc. Sin and
misery go together Those who are insub-
ordinate God will curb and chasten by
affection, both to humble them and show
them His power. "This verse teaches that
events are good or bad according to the
goodness or badness of the man they at
feet; that the riches Of a rich wording are
bound to be a curse and to bring many
sorrows, while TO the humble, trustful soul
comes 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 .merees. "Be glad :; rejoice
E. . shout" How wonderful that such
exultation may follow such iniquity and
remorse! There must be sincere sorrow,
full confession, earnest prayer, simple
faith and hottest purpose to cease from sin.
Then there is full remission and freedom
of spirit, a sense Of deliverance and Of
divine mercy that causes all within the
ransomed nature to rejoice. This is the