Psalm 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. Our tendency is to do the reverse of this, to think much of our virtues, and very little of our sins. This is natural, but not, therefore, good. I. TO THINK MUCH OF OUR VIRTUES DOES NOT ACCORD WITH THE TEACHING OF CHRIST (Luke 17:10). Our Lord intended thus to check in His disciples their over-estimation of their own merits. He discourages any opinion of our merit even in those who had the best pretensions to entertain it (Philippians 2:12), where "fear and trembling" are enjoined on Christians; the very opposite of all self-satisfaction. And ever in the New Testament the evangelical character is "contrition." We are ever bidden "repent." II. AND SEE HOW PAUL (Philippians 3.) RENOUNCES ALL TRUST IN HIMSELF. In 1 Corinthians 15. he says, "I am the least of the apostles, not worthy," etc. (1 Timothy 1:16). III. SELF-ESTEEM IS OPPOSED TO ALL GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR OUR REDEMPTION. Hence we are ever being told that we are all to "grace, not of ourselves, lest," etc. Thus would God bend down and humble all sentiments of merit. (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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