The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-08-20
IMPROVED UNlYeRM INTERNATIONAL
SUlyDNS01OOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER. D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper UnionL)
LESSON FOR AUGUST %
pAvID's PRAYER FOR PARDON.

GOLDEN TEXT-wash me thoroughly
from mine iniquity. and cleanse me from
my sin.-Ps. 51:2
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-II Sam. Ii.
L.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Asking God to For
give Us.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How David Obtained
Forgiveness.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
What to Do When We Have Done
Wrong
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Penitential Prayer in Christian Expe-
rience.
There can scarcely be any doubt
but what the sin here meant is that
which we studied last Sunday, namely,
adultery and murder (see II Sam. II
and 12). About year had elapsed
from the time of David's sin to his
repentance. The Thirty-second Psalm
graphically pictures David's state
of soul during this time. 1t was a
year of great soul-anguish day and
night he was lashed by guilty con-
science. In this psalm we see the
path by which a guilty soul may re
turn to God.
|. David's Cry for Pardon (vv. l, p.
1t is well to note his conception of
God. He saw him as God of mercy
and loving kindness.
l. "Have mercy ". y. He knew
that justice would forever separate
him from God. Because he saw the
mercy and loving kindness of God, he
did not sink down under his weight of
gloom and despair. Because Judas
Iscariot did not see God as God Of
mercy he went out and hanged him
self.
2. blot out my transgressions"
". ~. He was fully conscious how
many had been his acts of rebellion
against God.
3. "Wash me from my iniquity" ".
p. He knew that 1t was not enough
to have GOD blot out his sin. for his
very person was defiled. He knew
washed thoroughly, and that by God
himself.
4. "Cleanse me from my sin" (v. p.
He was not clear that washing would
make him clean, so he pleads with
God to make him clean by whatever
process is needed. He was even will
ing for fire to be applied, just so he
could be clean.
II. David's Confession (vv. 3-5).
LII acknowledge my transgressions''
". 81. He now makes clean breast
of them-he would hold back moth
ing. There is no way to peace with
God but by a full confession of sin.
No half-hearted dealing with sin will
avail.
2. Against thee have I done this
evil" ". ~. All sin is vitally and re-
ally against God. All our wrong-do-
ing with our fellows is against God,
for such deeds violate his laws. To
heighten all this guilt he remembers
that it was done in Gods sight, thus
showing disrespect and contempt for
him.
g. Behold, was shapen in iniqui-
ty" (v. 81. He confesses not only to
these acts of sin, but that he is by
very nature a sinner.
III. David's Cry for peIiverance
(vv. 6-9).
l. Make me to know wisdom" ".
g.. He asked God that instead of
heart wickedness he might be taught
by God himself in his inmost nature.
. purge me with hyssop" ". Z.
David seems to see that in order to
be cleansed there is need of applying
atoning blood. His prayer scars aloft
on the wings of faith to the supreme
sin offering, Christ.
5. Restoration wv. s, 81. He not
only wants pardon, but restoration to
the divine favor in Jesus Christ
~. David's Cry for Purity of Heart
wv. 10-12).
He realized that If his life was to
be different, God must dispose his
heart toward the right, so he cried
for the Holy Spirit to not be taken
away from him.
v. David's Vows wv. 13-1O.
/. To tell Gods mercies to others
". 13). The one who has experienced
Gods forgiveness at once desires to
tell it to others.
2. To sing aloud of Gods righteous
ness ". 14). He saw that the applica-
tion of Gods mercy and loving kind
ness was on the ground of righteous
ness and justice. He had vowed to
preach, now he VOWS to sing.
g. To show forth Gods praise ".
15). When the Lord opens mans
lips, then his lips shall sing his
praises.
4. The reason assigned (vv. 16, ID.
1t is because the sinner has seen the
supreme sacrifice, Christ, and with a