Psalm 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. I. THERE IS NO OCCASION WHATEVER TO MEDITATE UPON OUR VIRTUES. God will not forget them (Hebrews 6:10). We shall not make them any better by thinking of them. But it is not the same with our sins. Thinking on them may lead to effectual repentance, and so the sin of our conduct may, through God's mercy in Christ, be done away. And we may be led thereby to make reparation, so far as we can, for the wrong we have done. And would we have the comfort of religion, it will not be by thinking on our good actions, but by conquering our sins. It is sin and nothing else which spoils our religious comfort. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace." II. THE CUSTOM OF VIEWING OUR VIRTUES TENDS TO FILL US WITH FALLACIOUS NOTIONS of our own state and condition. III. HAS AN UNFAVOURABLE EFFECT UPON OUR DISPOSITION towards other men (Luke 18.), the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Let our sins then be ever before us, as they well may be, for we all have many sins to think of. (Archdeacon Paley.) Parallel Verses KJV: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.WEB: Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice. |
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