787 brethren until we ourselves have been turned from our sins. Here is a great lesson for the soul winner. Remember that under the old dispensation the Spirit worked with men from without; but after Christ’s resurrection the Spirit came to abide forever with the believer. He is sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. The Spirit departed from Saul (1 Sam. 16:14). David-did not want to have that experience. He confesses to a broken heart, and a broken heart is a heart at its best. (4) A PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE, vs. 18, 19. David now prays for Zion,— for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem. He was hoping to build a temple and to build a wall around Jerusalem. He does the natural thing. No sooner is he conscious of God’s .forgiveness, than he .is “ conscience-free.” He does not regard iniquity in his heart and he com mences to pray for the peace and pros perity of his. people. When we have had an all-night prayer meeting and everything is cleaned up in our hearts, we enjoy pleading for others. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Man wants mercy, not justice, from God. (2) Man needs pardon, not pity, for restoration to God. (3) Many sins demand a multiude of tender mercies. (4) God’s ground for forgiveness of sin is grounded upon the sacrifice of our Saviour. (5) Sin separates from God’S family, confession restores to fellowship. (6) The joy bells ring in the human heart when Jesus’ blood has been applied. (7) A clean heart, open lips, and a life of love will make one a soul winner. (8) God’s gift of His Son is the only sacrifice needed for the sins of men..
THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S a new heart.” “ Renew a right spirit.” “ Restore the joy.” “ Wash me whiter than snow.” These all emphasize his- consciousness of his deep guilt,—what we would call a general cleaning up of the whole man,— and we must he impressed with his thor oughness. David desired to be right with God. He knows that God desires truth in the inward part. (1 Sam. 16:7). “For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (Luke 11:39.) “And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.” There is only one thing that can cleanse sin,— that is, the blood of God’s Son, and the blood sacrifice of David’s day spoke always of the Lamb of God. (Ex. 12:3; John 1:29). The sinner needs the washing of regeneration. (Titus 3:5). (3) A PROMISE OP REPARATION, vs. 13-17. Deep experiences are conducive of the largest helpfulness to others. Through them we learn to sympathize. We learn the heart of God. Spurgeon well says “None instruct others so well as those who have been experimentally taught themselves.” David has been short on service to God and is hroken-heartedly confessing it. He has been playing with the fire, seeking personal satisfaction, rather than seeking souls to glorify God. David has been stealing from God the honor due to Him, and proposes now to get back to his legitimate business. David was not only a murderer but a robber, for he robbed God of his service and of His glory. He not only confesses his sins, but he pleads for restoration, then promises God that he will make reparation by becoming a soul-winner. He wants the joy of acceptance with God and the presence and power of His Holy Spirit, and then he will teach the way of salvation, and sinners will turn their eyes to Jehovah and open their hearts to him. (Luke 22:32; lActs 9:17-22). It is useless to seek to convert our
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