Hints to Preachers

[The Psalm is upon its surface so full of suggestions for sermons that I have not attempted to offer any of my own, but have merely inserted a selection from Mr. G. Rogers and others.]

Verse 1.—I. The Prayer. 1. For mercy, not justice, Mercy is the sinner’s attribute—as much a part of the divine nature as justice. The possibility of sin is implied in its existence. The actual commission of sin is implied in its display. 2. For pardon, not pity merely, but forgiveness. II. The plea. 1. For the pardon of great sins on account of great mercies, and lovingkindness. 2. Many sins on account of multitude of mercies. 3. Hell-deserving sins on account of tender mercies. We who have sinned are human, he who pardons is divine.

“Great God, thy nature hath no bound, So let thy pardoning love be found.”

Verse 3.—I. Confession. “I acknowledge,” etc. II. Humiliation, not a mere confession with the lips, but ever before me—in its guilt—defilement—consequences in this life and hereafter.

Verses 3, 4, 11, 12, 17.—I. Scripture estimate of sin. 1. Personal accountability—“My sin.” 2. Estimated as hateful to God—“Against thee,” etc. 3. Sin estimated as separation from God. II. Spiritual restoration. First step—Sacrifice of a broken spirit. Last step—Spirit of liberty. “Thy free spirit.”—F. W. Robertson.

Verse 4.—1. The person—“I.” 2. The commission—“done.” 3. The trespass—“evil.” 4. The particularity—“this.” 5. The daring of it—“in thy sight.”—Samuel Page.

Verse 4.—“Against thee.” 1. Thee, an holy God—a God of pure eyes, and that cannot endure to behold iniquity. 2. Thee, a just God—who will punish sin. 3. Thee, an Almighty God. 4. Thee, a gracious God.—T. Horton.

Verse 4.—I. Self-condemnation. 1. For the greatness of sin. Not against self merely, or fellow men, but God. This includes all guilt, for all is against him. 2. Its effrontery, “in thy sight.” II. Divine justification. 1. In the permission of sin. 2. In its punishment. 3. In its forgiveness. God must be justified when he justifies the ungodly.

Verse 6.—See T. Goodwin’s Treatise, entitled, “An Unregenerate Man’s Guiltiness before God, in respect of Sin and Punishment.” Bk. ix. cap. i. ii. [Nichol’s edition, Vol. X., p. 324 et seq.]

Verse 7.—Here is, I. Faith in the fact of an atonement for sin. “I shall be clean.” II. Faith in the method of its application. “Purge me,” etc. Sprinkled as the blood of sacrifices. III. Faith in its efficacy. “I shall be whiter,” etc.

Verse 10.—I. The change to be effected. 1. A clean heart. 2. A right spirit. II. The power by which it is accomplished. 1. A creative power, such as created the world at first. 2. A renewing power, such as continually renews the face of the earth. III. The acquirement of these blessings. The prayer, “Create,” etc.

Verse 11 (first clause).—I am not cast away, and would be thankful. I deserve to be cast away, and ought to be penitential. I am afraid of being cast away, and must be prayerful. “Cast me not away.” 1. From thy protecting presence into danger. 2. From thy loving presence into wrath. 3. From thy joyous presence into distress. 4. From thy affluent presence into destitution. 5. From thy gracious presence into despair. Sin hurries us away from God; grace hastens us into his embrace: the former severs, and the latter unites, God and the soul.—W. Jackson.

Verse 11.—I. There is often much comfort in much grief. “Cast me not,” etc. A consciousness of still having the divine presence and a dread of losing it, prompts the prayer. II. There is often much faith in much fear. “Take not,” etc. Faith in the spirit works within him while he fears.

Verses 12-13.—A threefold desire: 1. To be happy—“Restore,” etc. 2. To be consistent—“Uphold,” etc. 3. To be useful—“Then will I teach,” etc.—W. Jackson.

Verse 13.—I. It is not our duty to seek the conversion of others until we are converted ourselves. II. The greater enjoyment we have in the ways of God, the more faithfully and earnestly we shall make them known to others. III. The more faithfully and earnestly we make them known to others the more they will be influenced by them.

Verse 15.—I. Confession. His lips are sealed on account—1. Of his fall—and well they might be. 2. Of natural timidity. 3. Of want of zeal. II. Petition. “Open thou,” etc. Not my understanding merely and heart, but “lips.” III. Resolution. Then he would speak freely in God’s praise.

Verse 15.—I. When God does not open our lips we had better keep them closed. II. When he does open them we ought not to close them. III. When he opens them it is not to speak in our own praise, and seldom in praise of others, but always in his own praise. IV. We should use this prayer whenever we are about to speak in his name. “O Lord, open,” etc.

Verses 16-17.—I. Men would gladly do something towards their own salvation if they could. “Thou desirest not,” etc., else would I give it. II. All that they can do is not of the least avail. All the ceremonial observances of Jewish or Gentile churches could not procure pardon for the least transgression of the moral law. III. The only offering of man which God will not despise is a broken and a contrite heart. IV. All other requirement for his salvation God himself will provide.

Verse 18.—I. For whom is the prayer offered—for the church or Zion? 1. Next to our own welfare we should seek the welfare of Zion. 2. All should seek it by prayer. II. For what is the prayer offered? 1. The kind of good, not worldly or ecclesiastical, but spiritual. 2. The measure of good. “In thy good pleasure. Thine own love to it, and what thou hast already done for it.” 3. The continuance of good. “Build,” etc. Its doctrines, graces, zeal.

Verse 19.—I. When we are accepted of God our offerings are accepted. “Then,” etc. II. We should then make the richest offerings in our power, our time, talents, influence, etc. 1. Holy obedience. 2. Self-sacrifices, not half offerings, but whole “burnt-offerings;” not lambs merely, but “bullocks.” 3. Zeal for divine ordinances. “Upon thine altar.” III. God will take pleasure in such services. “Then shalt thou be pleased.” 1. Because from his own redeemed. 2. Because given in the name of the Redeemer. With such sacrifices God is well pleased.