---

The context shows that this is the prayer of a man who had long loved and served God. Yet side by side with this consciousness of devotion and service there lie the profound sense of sin, and of the need of pardon. This consciousness of transgression and cry for pardon are inseparable and permanent accompaniments of a devout life all along its course, but they are the roots and beginnings of all godliness. As a rule, the first step which a man takes to knit himself consciously to God is through the gate of recognised and repeated and confessed sin, and imploring the Divine mercy.

I. THE CRY FOR PARDON. There are two elements in forgiveness. There is the forgiveness known to law and practised by the lawgiver. And there is the forgiveness known to love, and practised by the friend, or parent, or lover. The one consists in the remission of external penalties. But there is a forgiveness deeper than legal pardon. We must carry both of these ideas into our thoughts of God's pardon, in order to get the whole fulness of it. Scripture recognises as equally real and valid, in our relations to God, the judicial and the fatherly side of the relationship.

II. THE PLEA FOR PARDON. "For Thy name's sake."

1. The mercy of God flows from the infinite depths of His own character. He is His own motive. He forgives because He is God.

2. The past of God is a plea with God for present forgiveness. "Thy name" in Scripture means the whole revelation of the Divine character.

3. The Divine forgiveness is in order that men may know Him better. Nothing reveals the sweetness of the Divine name like the assurance of His pardon.

III. THE REASON FOR THIS EARNEST CRY. "For it is great." That may be a reason for the pardon; more probably it is a reason for the prayer. The fact is true in regard to us all.

(A. Maclaren, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

WEB: For your name's sake, Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.