The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 382

the Lcvitimtl Ln.w cleanse from contact oncl, had they been continued or not repented wilh a. corpse (Numb. xix. 18) c,r from U10 of, would have caused him to withdraw defilemont of leprosy (Lev. xiv. 4). Dadd himself; but they had not "wholly quenched recognizes that bis impurity is of the the Spirit" (1 These. v. 19). David was 1•xtr,·mcst kind, 1md needs the remedy therefore able to pray, as he does, that the which bas the greatest purifying power. Holy Spirit of God might still be vouchsafed Legn.lly, this was the hyssop, with its to him, and not be "taken nway," a-1 from "blood of sprinkling" (Lev, xiv. 6, 7); one wholly unworthy. spiritually, it was the blood of Christ, Ver. 12.-Restore unto me the joy of thy which was thus symbolized. Wash me, salvation. Give me back that" joy" whieh and I shall bo whiter than snow. Again was mine when I was conscious of thy the word is used which corresponds to the favour, and felt that thou wert my Strength G1·eek 1rll.v11011. "Wash me as garments and my Salvation (Pas. xviii. I ; lxii. 2, are washed by the fuller" (see the comment etc.). And uphold me with thy free spirit. on ver. 2). There is no "thy" in the original; and it Ver. 8.-Make me to hear joy and is his own spirit, not God's Spirit, of which gladneBS (comp. below, ver. 12). On for- the psalmist here speaks. "Uphold me," giveness follows naturally the sense of it, he says, " preserve me from falling, by and this sense is in itself a deep satisfaction. giving rne a' free,' or 'generous,' or 'noble' But the psalmist seems to ask for something spirit-the opposite of that 'spirit of bond- more. He wants not mere negative pence nge' which the apostle says that Christiana and rest, but the active thrilling joy which do not receive" (Rom. viii. 15). those experience who feel themselves re- stored to God's fovonr, and bask in the Vera. 13-17.-The psalmist now turns light of bis countenance. That the bones from prayer to promise. If God will grant which thou hast broken may rejoioe. That his petitions, restore him to favour, aud renew every ache and pain may cease, and be his spiritual life, then lie will make such replaced by gladness and rejoicing. return as is possible to him. First, he will Ver. 9.-Hide thy faoe from my sine. Turn thyself away from them-do not so teach transgressors God's ways (ver. 13). much as see them, The apostle speaks Next, he will extol his righteousness, nnd of times of ignomnce, which God "winked show forth bis prairn (vers. 11, 15). Finally, at" (A cls xvii. 30). And blot out all mine he will offer him, not bloocly sacrifice, but iniquities (comp. ver. I). the sacrifice in which he delights-" the Ver. 10 -Create in me a olean heart, 0 God; i.e. do moro than purify me-do more snrrifico of n broken spirit, o. broken and than cleanse me ( vcr 7) ; by an act of oontrito heart" (vers. 16, 17). Such sacri- creative power (i-:i::i) malte in me n new fice, ho is sure, Go,l will not despise. clean heart. Compare lbe Christian doctrine of the ·• new birth" and "new life." And Ver. 13.-Thcn will I tee.oh transgressors renew a right spirit within ma. " Hcnrt" thy ways. 'l'he truly gro.toful heart cannot nnd "spirit" nro used interchangenbly for be satisfied without making rnme return tho inwnrd essence of man; but, as Professor to God for his goodness. 'l'he most satis- Cheyne observes, "Henrt emphasizes the factory return id by deeds, not worda, individunl side of a man's lifo; spirit, its D11vid's determination is to do h;s best to Divine, or at lcnst preternaturnl side." promote the glory of God by bringing othcrd David, in nsking both for a new heart and to snlvntion, turning them from their own a new spirit, requests the renovation of his evil ways to tho "ways" thnt Go,1 would entire mentnl and moral nature, which he hnvo them walk in. And sinners shall be recognizes as corrupt and depraved. converted unto thee. The result, ho hopes, Ver. 11.-Cast me not away from thy will bo the con'l'ersion to Go,l of m«ny presanoe. 'fo be "cast away from God's "sinners" (comp. Ps. xxxii. 8). prosonoe" is to be altogether cast out of Ver. H.-Deliver me from bloodgnilti.noes, his co'l'eunnt, made an alien from him, O God, In David's mouth this prayer is deprived of his favour and tho light of his reaclily intelligible. In that of Du.byloui:in countont1nce (seo Gen. iv. 14; 2 Kings xiii. exiles, tho victims of oppression nnrl wrong, 23). Tho 1,salmist deprecntos so terrible it would bo most extraordinary. Thou God a punishment, although he feel~ that he hns of my salvation (comp. Pss. xviii. 46; xxv. deserved it. And take not thy Holy Spirit 5; xxvii. 9; lxxxviii. I, eto.). And my from me. God's Holy Spirit had beon tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteous- :poured upon David when ho was fil"st ness. In further nclrnowledgment of God's anointed by Samuel to the kingly offico goodness, nnd ns, in some sort, o. return (I Se.m. xvi. 13). His great sins had un- for it, Dnvid will employ himself iu singing doubtedly "grieved" and vexed the Spirit; tho prnises of God (see his many realm~ 896 'I'BE BOOK OF PSALMS. [l•s. Lt. 1-10.