[The Psalmist evidently refers to the state of a leper, or a leprous house. No disorder was more lothesome than leprosy™. A person infected with it was di'iven from the society of his dearest relatives, and was necessitated to pro- claim his uncleanness to all who approached him". Nor could his disorder ever be cured by the art of man. If he were ever healed, it was by God alone, without the intervention of human means. Hence David, knowing the filthiness and incurable- ness of sin, cries to God.]
Similar representations also abound in every part of the sacred writings —
[Our natural depravity is declared in expressions of the like import" Our acquired corruptions are said to render us lothesome objects p. The very remains of sin in the holiest of men are also described in similar terms ^r yea, the most emi- nent saints, in bewailing their sinfulness, have used the very same figure as Da\dd in the text ^ Happy would it be for us, if we had these views of sin : we should soon put away our proud, self-exalting thoughts, and should adopt the confessions of holy Job ^]
But, vile as sin is, it may be both forgiven and subdued —
II. The means of deliverance from it —
It has been already observed, that David alludes to the case of a leper. This is manifest from the terms, wherein he implores deliverance. Under Jewish figures he sets forth the only means of salvation —
[Certain means were prescribed by God for the purifica- tion of a leper^. Wlien God had healed him, " the priest was to take two clean birds, with cedar-wood, scarlet, and hyssop." Having killed one of the birds, the priest was to " dip the hys- sop and the live bird in the blood of the bird that had been slain :" he was then to " sprinkle the leper seven times, and to let loose the living bird." This ordinance typified the death of Christ, with his resurrection, and subsequent ascension into heaven with his oivn blood^. A similar ordinance is explained by the Apostle in this very manner'^, and the same effect is
^ Lev. xiii. 8. « Lev. xiii. 44 — 46.
° Job XV. 14 — 16. P Prov. xiii. 5.
1 Rom. vii. 24. The allusion seems to be to a dead body, which was sometimes fastened to criminals, till they died in consequence of the stench arising from it. In such a light did St. Paul view the remains of sin which he felt within him.
r isai. vi. 5. s Job ix. 20, 21, 30, 31. » Lev. xiv. 2—7.
u Heb. ix. 12. ^ Heb. ix. 13, 14.