The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 381

prayer for mercy and forgiveness (vers. 1- mainly ngainst Go,1; nnd tho better sort of 4); a second strophe, of eight verses, which men always feel this. "How cau I <lo this is an entreaty for r('storation and renewal great wickedncsR," says Joseph, when (vers. 5-12); a third strophe, of five verses, tempted by Petiphar's wife, "and si11 againtt God 1" And so David to Nnthan, setting for~h the return which tile psalmist when he was first rebuked by him, "I have will make, if he is forgiven and restored sinned against the Lord" (2 Sam. xii. 13). (vers. 13-17); o.nd a conclusion, in tl'l"o Aud done this evil in thy sight; that thou verseg, praying for God's blessing on the mightest be justiftod when thou speakest, people, and promfoing an nmple return on and be clear when thou judgeet. Clear in the eyes of tho world, that is; free from all their part (vers. 18, 19). charge of harshness or injustice, when thou judgest me, and condemnest me for my sins, Yer. 1.-Have mercy upon me, 0 God, as tllon must do. according to thy loving-kindness. It is observable that the whole psalm is addressed Vers. 5-12.-The pro.yer now makes a to Gnd (Elohim), and not to Jehovah (the stride in ad vane e. It has been hitherto for "Lord" in ,er. 15 is Adonai), as though tile first step in justification-the wiping the psalmist felt himself unworthy to utter out of past transgressions. It is now for the eovenant-nnme, and simply prostrated himself as a guilty man before his offended restoration, for a renewal of spiritual life, 1II akcr. It is not correct to say that "loving- for a return to God's favour, and to the kindness implies a c-0venant" (Cheyne), spiritual joy involved in it. First, how- since Gad is "good to all, and bis tender ever, nn o.dditional confession is made (vers. mercies are over all his works " (Ps. cxlv. 5, 6). Not only have I oommitted acts of 9). According unto the multitude of thy sin (vers. 1-4), but sin is thoroughly tender mercies blot out my transgressions. David's first prayer is for pity; bis second, to ingrained into my nature. I was conceiveu have his offences "blotted out," or "wiped in it ; I was brought forth in it; only the out "-entirely removed from God's book strongest remedies cau cleanse me from it (comp. Exod. xrxii. 32; Isa. xliii. 25; xliv. (ver. 7). But cleansing alone is not enough. 22). He says "my transgressions," in the I need renewal (ver. 10); I need thy Holy plural, because" his great sin did not stand alone-adultery was followed by treachery Spirit (ver. 11); I crave, above all, the and murder" (Canon Cook). sense of a restoro.tion to thy favour-a. re- Ver. 2.-Wash me throughly from mine turn lo the old feelings of "joy and glacl- iniquity. Wash me, as a fuller washes a ness" (ver. 8), even "the joy of thy salva- fouled garment (,r>,.iivov, LXX., not vl,j,ov), tion" (ver. 12). not as a man waEhes his skin. And cleanse me from my sin. "Transgressions," Ver. 5.-Behold, I we.e she.pen in iniquity; •• iniquity," "sin," cover every forin of moral rather, in iniquity wae I brought forth. And evil, and. united together, imply the deepest in sin did my mother conceive me. It is guilt (comp. vers. 3, 5, 9, 14). doubtless true, ns Professor Cheyne says, Ver. 3.-For I acknowledge my trans- th,it "the Old Testament contains no theory gressions (comp. Ps. xxxii. 5, "I said, I of the origin of sin "-no formulated doctrine will confess my transgressions unto the on the subject. But tile fa.et of oongenitnl Lord; e.nd thou forgavest tho iniquity of depravity is stated, not only here, but also my sin"). The first step in repentance is in Job xiv. 4; Ps. lviii. 3; it is also implied contrition; tlie second, oonfession; the in Isa. xliii. 27 and Hoe. vi. 7. tliird, amendment of life. And my sin is Ver. 6.-Behold, thou desirest truth in ever before me. I bear it in mind; I <lo not the inward parts (comp. Job xxxviii. 36). hide it from myself. I keep it continually God requires not merely such purity 11s beforn my mental vision. This, too, is might bo at.tained by the use of legal and characteristic of true penitence. Mock ritual methods; but true inward purits penitents coufcss th~ir sins, and straight- of thought and heart, whioh is a very way forget them. Real genuine ones find different matter. And in the hidden part it impossible to forget. tboa shalt me.ke me to know wisdom; rather, Ver. 4.-Against thee, thee only, have I do thou malte me. An optative, accort!iug sinned. Though no sins could be moro to Professor Cheyne. The moaning is, "As directly against man the.a adultery and nothing will content thoe but this perfect, murder, yet David foels that tllat aspect of inward purity, do thou give me into my tliem shrinks away into insignificance, and heart its fundamental priuciple-wisdom, or is as if it were not, when they are viewed the fear of God." in their true and real ch11r-..cter, as offences Ver. 7.-l'urg:e me with hyssop, and I age.illJlt the majesty of God. Every sin is ehall be olean. " Hyssop" alone could by l'B, tt, 1-10.J THll: BOOK OF PSALMS. 395