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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4a
wish to doubt God, doubt christianity, and the word of God, will not
judge candidly, and impartially, but with prejudiced minds will scan
the life and character, to detect all the defects in the life of those who
have been the most eminent leaders of Israel. A faithful delineation
of character, God has caused to be given in inspired history, of the
best and greatest men in their day. These men were mortal, subject
to a tempting Devil. Their weakness and sins are not covered, but are
faithfully recorded, with the reproof and punishment which followed.
“These things were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of
the world are come.”
God has not allowed much said in his word to extol the virtues of
the best men that have lived upon the earth. All their victories, and
great and good works, were ascribed to God. He alone was to receive
the glory, he alone to be exalted. He was all and in all. Man was only
an agent, a feeble instrument in his hands. The power and excellence
was all of God. God saw in man a continual disposition to depart from,
and to forget him, and worship the creature, instead of the Creator.
Therefore God would not suffer much in the praise of man to be left
upon the pages of sacred history.
David repented of his sin in dust and ashes. He entreated the
forgiveness of God, and concealed not his repentance from the great
men, and even servants of his kingdom. He composed a penitential
Psalm, recounting his sin and repentance, which Psalm he knew would
be sung by after generations. He wished others to be instructed by the
sad history of his life.
The songs which David composed were sung by all Israel, espe-
cially in the presence of the assembled court, and before priests, elders
and lords. He knew that the confession of his guilt would bring his
sins to the notice of other generations. He presents his case, showing
in whom was his trust and hope for pardon. “Have mercy upon me,
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O God, according to thy loving kindness; according to the multitude
of thy mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from
mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Deliver me from blood
guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation.”
David does not manifest the spirit of an unconverted man. If he
had possessed the spirit of the rulers of the nations around him, he
would not have borne from Nathan the picture of his crime before him
in its truly abominable colors, but would have taken the life of the