Middletown transcript., 1920-08-21
LESSON FOR AUGUST 22
DAvIp's PRAYER FOR PARDON.

61S0OV ] vi AOoVOU *
DAvID's PRAYER FOR PARDON.
LESSON TExT-Ps. 51:1-17.
GOLDEN TEXT-Wash me thoroughly
from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from
my SHIPS 51:2
ADDITIONAL MATERIALu Sam. II,
L.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Asking God to For.
give Us.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How David Obtained
Forgiveness.
INTERMEDIARY 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
hut 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 Thfrty-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 guilty soul may re-
turn to God.
I. David's Cry for Pardon wv. 1, p.
1t Is well to note his conception OF
God. He saw him as a God Of mercy
and loving kindness.
i. "Have mercy ". ~. 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 SEQ God as a 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; how he had wronged his
fellows; how grossly he had INDUCED
his passions, and that all these acts
were recorded against him; but hav-
ing caught glimpse Of Gods mercy
and loving kindness, he pleaded with
him not merely to draw his pen
through the register Of his deeds, but
to erase-blot out-his record.
3. wash me from my iniquity" ".
y. He knew that it was not enough
to have God blot out his sin, for his
very person was defiled. He knew
that in order to be clean he must be
washed thoroughly, and that by God
himself.
4. Cleanse me from my sim (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 wv. 3-5).
1T 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 1 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.
3. Behold, l. was shapen in iniqui-
ty" ". 81. He confesses not only to
these acts Of sin, but that he is by
very nature sinner.
III. David's Cry for DeIiverance
wv. 6-9).
1. make me to know wisdom" ".
g.. He asked God that instead of
heart wickedness he might be taught
by God himself in lis inmost nature.
2. "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.
8. Restoration wv. 8, 81. He not
only wants pardon, but restoration to
the divine favor in Jesus Christ.
~. David's Cry for Purity Of Heart
wv. 1O-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. 1910.
/. 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-
ton 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.
8. To show forth Gods praise ".
'15). When the Lord opens mans
lips, then his lips shall sing his
praises.
4. The reason assigned wv. 16, ~.
It is because the sinner has seen the
supreme sacrifice, Christ, and with a
->-x~a%o hoor v>rocon<r &ho ~n@-,A~ -