Middletown transcript., 1915-06-12
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDGYSQIOOL
LESSON
(By q o. SELLERS. Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course OF Moody Bible
Institute, Chlcago.)
LESSON FOR June 10
sLEssEDNEss OF FORGIVENESS.

transgression Is forgiven, whose sin tg
;overed-Psalm 32:1.
This psalm is believed to have
grown out of David's experience with
Nathan (see Rom. 4:6-8). It is the
second Of the seven so-called "peni.
tential psalms" &c. 80. 3S. 81, 1O2, 1870,
143). While 1t is sad, 1t is at the same
time one Of the most joyful of all
psalms. 1t is the record of bitter sor-
row and also of heartfelt praise, and
Is as vital in its message today as the
day 1t was given to the world.
]. The State or Condition Of HappI-
ness. ~ What Is happIness7 w.
4, 2. The blessed or happy man is the
one whose sin is covered. God only
can forgive sin and has plainly set
before us his agency, viz, the shed
blood David es king enjoyed the
pleasures of life. but he also knew the
result Of hidden sin. of sins covered.
The Joy of forgiveness is offered to
all who accept Gods gift Of justifica-
tion (Acts 10:43). The psalmist seems
to multiply words. "Transgression"
means rebellion; "sin" to miss the
mark (Rom. 1929; "iniquity," to be
crooked. When men try to cover sin
we are expressly told the result prov.
2S:13), but God literally takes away
when he forgives and covers" sin
(John 1923; Ps. 1OS:12; S5:2). Nei-
ther man or devil can uncover what
he has covered. (2) Who ls unhappy
w. 8, 4. Contrasted with the state or
condition of happiness granted to the
forgiven sinner is presented that of
those unforgiven. David kept silence
without only to have raging tempest
within--lips silent, bones roaring"
During the days of David's silence fol-
lowing his sinful act he was guilty of
increased acts of sin and cruelty e
Sam. 12:3D. The origin of the word
Selah is not known. 1t probably indi-
Gated q musical interlude and in this
psalm most appropriately and dramat-
ically appears. (3) How we may be
happy, w. 5, 6. All sin is uncovered
to God. His all-seeing eye can pene-
trate maM's futile endeavors to hide
his transgressions. The first step to
forgiveness and to happiness is con-
fession of guilt. Gods heavy hand
wrought saving faith in David and
such faith has as its first condition
confession, 81 acknowledged my sin"
Such confession is full and frank
Nothing is held back nor has It any
element Of hypocrisy, and it always
secures results Il John 1:9; Luke Is:
20-23). The next step is to TASK"
duke 11:9. 1O); then there is for
giveness;" then there is imputed to
us the righteousness we did not pos
sess and we have forgiveness of sin
(Luke 22:37; James 1928; Ps. 1913;
Lev. 4:20; Matt. 26:2s).
The godly man, the man who is the
recipient of Gods grace thus bestowed.
prays in a time when thou mayest be
found" or (see margin) "in the time
Of finding out sin" ". 6 R. W. The
prophet tells US that there is a time
when we may not find God Elsa. $3.50
and Paul tells us when he may be
found III Cor. 6:2).
u. How TO Continue In the State Of
Being Happy. ~ Our security ". y.
When men forgive they do not cover -
What God hides he forgets lisa. 38:17;
Micah 7:19). Our security, our hid
ing place" is Jehovah. Our preserver
is Jehovah FPS. 91:31; lisa. 1921, q.
Jehovah preserves from trouble those
} whom he forgives FPS. 34:19). Such
! men have a serenity, a peace" even
, the peace of God" which the sinner
/ can never have lisa. 1858; Rom. 5:1:
) Phil. 4:7). (2) Our Instructor wv. 8
r 81. (a) Positively-we have one who
I not only forgives and blots out the
} past but one who has promised tC
} instruct" to teach. and to guide
Nearly all believe that the introduc
ton of the personal pronouns in verse
: indicate that God is speaking iT
response to David's appeal recorded In
7 verse 6. Jehovah guides with his "eYt
I upon" us ". R. W He instructi
5 us by his spirit through his Wore
t FPS. 119:105; John 1919. (b) Neg
| atively-Some must needs be directed
r by "bit and bridle." Some have t.
d learn through bitter experience. W,
( have our choice. Those who will no
h listen to instruction are compared t.
e the horse and the mule who have nj
"a EANCh bO NACy dI'
4 more useful than these who wildl,
g run after sin. Only thus can SOM
come near" ". 9 R. W though tina
Is better than not to be brought nea
at ALL (3) Our faith ". 81. Wha
l. kind of life will Gods forgiven chill
1. dren live? What is one of the fore
e most characteristics of happy life
?. Here is the answer. "He that trustetl
!. In the Lord" This is the conclusion
of the whole matter. The man of faitl
= "overcomes the world" This man 1
free from the many SORROWS" of tn
y wicked, for he is the recipient Of tn
!, mercy, the grace of Jehovah, who's
- mercies compass him about" Tha
mercy keeps him and through it evi
cannot break in upon him. outsid
" Of that mercy are the sorrows of tn
. wicked like a raging sea from. 2
8. 81. az Our Joy. Thrice over tn
psalmist reiterates his cry Of glaC
ness, "Be glad :. rejoice
shout" ". III. He expresses It in tn
N foran Of a command. even as Paul late
% commands the church at Philippi I
Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).
Our only Joy is in the Lord 'wh
hath done marvellous things whereC
ot We are glad"
70 Christ is the incarnate mercy an
y yrace Of God, In him we have God
forgiveness.
He sunn1iea our evarv nead fpbi