Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak… Our subject will be, that both in the condemnation and in the punishment of every sinner God will be justified. Now, concerning such condemned ones, we will speak — I. OF THE CHRISTIAN WHOSE CONSCIENCE CONDEMNS HIM. He will make the words of our text his own, and will say, "Thou art justified when Thou speakest, and," etc. For — 1. He makes a confession. He owns God's sentence just. And his confession is sincere; abundantly sufficient, without any attempt at extenuation, or promise that he will, of himself, do better. And not only does his confession justify God in condemning him, hub — 2. There is the fact that God Himself witnessed his crime; "In Thy sight," he owns that it was done. And the witness of his conscience he owns to be true and abundant. 3. The Christian has no doubt about the justice of the punishment, however severe. For he remembers not only what he himself has done, but how he has made others sin. II. THE CONDEMNATION OF THE UNGODLY. This is far more terrible. But in it God will be clear. 1. Because of the sinner's own confession. 2. The witnesses that will be against him. 3. And in the sinner's heart there will be no doubt at last as to the righteousness of his punishment. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. |
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