Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-21
By REv.sHUGH t. STEVENSON.

Ancient tradition has given to
group of the psalms the title of peni-
tential because they have given ex-
preston to sorrow for sin The his
ftorical occasion for this group of
penitential songs. that Luther called
the Pauline psalms, because they eX-
pressed the same great doctrine OF
grace which characterized the apos-
= ties teachings. was in all probability
, Nathan's stern rebuke of David's dou-
BILE sin. Some have questioned the
kings authorship of this marvellous
sinners guide" which might have
been written for any age or civlil-
Zation, as it is destined to remain
for all time the worlds supreme ex-
preston of conviction, contrition and
= confession of repentance and prayer
like all over. 1t would be far easier
to initiate Milton. Shakespeare or
Tennyson than David. His style is
altogether his own, and, in the
opinion of an eminent student of the
psalms. lis easily distinguishable as
the touch of a Raphel or the color
ing of Rubens."
This selection from the Hebrew
hymnal is the agonized cry of
broken spirit Chandler has admira-
bly, said of this psalm that 1.-The heart
appears in every line. and the bitter
cry of a wounded conscience discoV-
ers itself by the most natural and
convincing symbols. When TINS
psalm is studied without prejudice
and with the desire to understand the
sentiment that it expresses. any one
will realize that it is more than the
work of literary genius. although IT
is that. because it expresses the emo
tions of a soul under deep conviction
of sin, filled with the earnest desire
of Gods forgiveness and the faith
. that the memory of his former trans
gressionS will prevent him repeating
like sins in the future. Every line
bears the mark of a genuine re-
pentance and resolution to hence
forth serve the Lord if his sin IS
forgiven. 1t records living expert
ence that will always appeal to the
suffering stricken soul as mode
prayer for pardon and purity. as Well
as a promise of future service, that
every penitent man could utter.
Nathan's rebuke aroused the sleep
ing conscience of David. He was con-
WINGED OF his sin. crushed in spirit
and condemned of God because the
enorrr,ity of his evil deeds had been
made clear TO him. He had transgressed
not merely every standard of human
decency. but his aroused conscience
made clear to him that he had to
make settlement not with the courts
of his land. for he as king was su
perior TO the courts. but with the
Lord. His sin against men by cutting
him off from his contact with God
proved that his social vices were
transgressions of the spiritual life, so
that he turned seeking compassion
from Jehovah. His only hope for for
giveneness was based upon the char
acter of God. He believed that the
Lord would help him because of His
mercy and loving kindness.
Confession comes first in his pray
err He makes clean breast of his
personal sin. He makes no effort to
shift the responsibility upon others
for there is not a word concerning
the temptations that he faced, the ten
denotes which he inherited or the
training that he had received. He ac-
knowledged his guilt. using four diff
fcrent terms to describe his offenses
against God. He said nothing about
his sins against Criah. Bathsheba or
society, for according to the Old Tes-
lament he who sins sins against Je-
hovah. He speaks of his transgres-
sion, which means TO cross over a
line He had crossed over the line OF
Gods commandments and broken the
bounds of moral order. According &c
the Lord Jesus one can do this in
their thought and be guilty of trans
crossing the commandments. We are
AL sinners, even if we have not COM
ritted the inauity that stained
David's life.
The meaning of iniquity is thai
which is turned out of its proper
course or situation, hence any
thing that is morally distorted or per.
vcrted. He did not seek to. throw the
responsibility for this corruption o.
his nature upon his parents by his
confession in terms Of deep and bit
ter sorrow: II arm weak and prone tc
sin for such is the nature with
which ! was born He is referring