The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 387

Ver. 17.-" The sacrifices of God," etc. We may call this psalm "the penitent's prayer-book." The spectacle of a good man falling into open sin is a sight to make angels weep, especially a man so distinguished as David falling into sins so gross.and flagrant. We are ready t-0 ask why a veil of silence was not allowed to hide this shameful example. 'l.'his psalm supplies a twofold answer: the record of D,o.vid's profound humiliation and bitter repentance is a warning to those who "think they stand;" his humble but assured faith in God's pardoning mercy is an encouragement to those.who know they have fallen. We ~ould none of us afford to !ose this page out of the Bible. No part of Old Testament Scripture enters more deeply mto the spilitual life. These words set before us- I. WHAT THE SINNER CANNOT OFFER TO Goo. He can make no atonement for his sin, fulfil no duty that can be accepted as a counterpoise to his transgression. He has no hope but in the simple undeserved mercy of God (ver. 16). 'l'he word here for "sacrifice" is general, including sin offerings, Passover lambs, thank offerings-any sacrifice in which the victim was slain (so 1 Sam. iii. 14; Exod. xii. 27; this is over- looked by some good writers). The sin offering~ appointed by the Law provided for sins of ignorance, infirmity, and error, not for wilful transgressions of known law (" with a high hand") (Lev. iv. 2; Numb. xv. 27, 30). They were not designed to interfere with the course of civil justice; otherwise religion and law would have been in open conflict, (Heb. x. 28). Therefore crimes like David's-adultery and murder, for either of which the Law sentenced him to death-could not be purged by sacrifice. He deserved to die, and he knew it. He casts himself on the sovereign mercy of God: "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness I" (ver. 14). II. WHAT THE BINNER OAN OFFER TO Goo, AND Goo WILL ACCEPT. "A broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart." Why is this called a "sacrifice "-a consecrated gift to God? 1. Becanse we glorify God by frank, full~aclmowledgrnent that his Law is holy, his authority supreme, and that he may justly condemn and punish (see ver. 4). David had deeply sinned against men; but he seems to lose sight of this in the awful overwhelming view of his guilt against God (cf. J osb. viL 19). 2. Because this "broken and contrite heart" implies the full giving up of ourselves to God, not only that he may forgive our sin, set us free from the burden of guilt, but that he may "renew n ri~ht spirit within" us (vers. 9-12), that he may make us wholly his own (cf. Rom. xii. l). Nole that this word" sacrifice" does not of itself mean atonement. 'l'hat meaning was given to sacrifice by express Divine teaching (Lev. xvii. 11). III. THE DEEPEST PENITENCE-the truest sense of guilt and shame and grief for sin- IS CONSISTENT WITH BOUNDLESS FAITH IN Goo's FORGIVING MERCY. If ever there was the utterance of a broken, contrite heart, it is this psalm. No hypocrite, no ungodly man, could possibly have written it. No, nor yet a sincere godly penitent, without a mighty inspiration of God's Spirit. And the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, breathes into the broken heart the healing balm of hope, trust, joy, and thankfulness. David, who dares not offer a sacrifice until he knows that he is forJ?;iven, looks forward to the time when he shall offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, peace offerings, and whole burnt offerings; when God will bless him in his work of building the holy city, and will himself bles8 and guard Jerusalem (vers. 18, 19), without which verses the psalm would be mairQed and incomplete. IV. '!'he WARRANT OF THIS ASSURED FAITH is found, not in the sinner's rep,ntance, but in God's mercy and promise (ver. 1). Nathan had been commissioned t,1 assure David of pardon as well as to charge him with his sin (2 Sam. xii. 13). If David had asked how it could be right and just for God thus to pardon crimes which, I\S king, PS. LI. 1-19.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 401