Psalms 51:17

Psalms 51:17

The difference between good and bad men in Holy Scripture may be said to consist in this: whether they have or have not "a broken and a contrite spirit;" the degrees of their acceptance with God seem to depend on this; and in consequence we! shall find in those who are most of all approved some expression that implies this temper. A broken and contrite heart alone can embrace Christ crucified; and he who is most diligent in works of evangelical righteousness will be most contrite, and therefore will most of all have faith in Christ crucified.

I. All good works which God has prepared for us to walk in bring us to know God, and to know ourselves, and consequently to a broken spirit. And the effect of a careless, thoughtless, sinful life, and indeed of every sin, is to close the eyes, so that we cannot see, and the ears, that we cannot hear.

II. It is evident that we have all great reason to fear lest God should take from us His most Holy Spirit, who dwells with the contrite. Nothing can make the heart contrite but the Holy Spirit of God. It is certain that the Holy Spirit will depart from those who reject Him; that it is He who darkens the eyes, and shuts up the ears, and hardens the heart. The very ease and indifference with which we are apt to hear, and see, and act affords us a reasonable cause for apprehension. Is not our very unconcern enough to concern us? "Blessed is he," we are told, "who feareth always."

Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times"vol. vii., p. 250 (see also J. Keble, Sermons for the Christian Year: Christmas to Epiphany,p. 357).

Notice one or two of those accepted sacrifices which from time to time have been set up in our world, and which the Holy Spirit has recorded for our humiliation, our comfort, and our happiness.

I. The repentance of David was the repentance of a fallen child of God. If we can say that David's confession was the cause of his forgiveness, in a truer sense we may say David's forgiveness was the cause of his repentance. It was none other than the fountain of God's forgiving love that opened the fountain of a penitent spirit.

II. The case of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, was as dissimilar to that of David as it is possible for the manifestation of the same grace to be in two places. Manasseh was a dissolute, godless man for more than half the years of his life. David was aroused by a voice, Manasseh by an iron chain. Out of the depths he cried to God. Sorrow made him acquainted with himself; prayer made him acquainted with God.

III. The history of the Ninevites stands out with this signalising mark, that our Lord Himself adduced it as the very standard of true repentance, by which others at the last great day shall be measured and condemned. The distinguishing feature in their repentance was that it was national.

IV. Mary was saved at Jesus' feet, Peter by a look from Jesus' eye. With each God deals separately as He pleases, and as each requires. But in all sin is the parent of the sorrow, sorrow is the parent of the joy, and joy is the parent of holiness. Grace and the God of grace are the same yesterday, today, and for ever, "all in all."

J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,1874, p. 181.

Notice:

I. The broken heart. This is the most emphatic term that can be employed for setting forth intense sorrow. (1) A broken heart is one which renounces all idea of merit and seeks alone for mercy. (2) A broken heart will always feel its sins to be peculiarly its own. (3) A third accompaniment of a broken heart, and one never wanting, is this: a full confession of sin. When the broken heart makes confession, it does so in the plainest language possible. (4) A broken heart mourns most over the Godward aspect of sin. This is a very crucial test. David says, "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned." (5) A broken heart will never cavil with God about the deserved punishment. (6) A broken heart will mourn its general depravity. (7) A broken heart will always be as anxious for purity as for pardon. It cries not only, "Blot out my transgressions," but "Create in me a clean heart." (8) A broken heart is not a despairing heart. A broken heart does not doubt God's power to cleanse, nor does it call in question God's willingness to forgive. A despairing heart knows nothing about this. (9) A broken heart is an agonised heart.

II. A broken heart is a heart that God will never despise. We have His royal word for it. (1) Christ will never despise it, and that for a very good reason. He has suffered from it Himself. (2) He will not despise it because He broke thy heart. It would be despising His own handiwork were He to reject a contrite spirit.

A. G. Brown, Penny Pulpit,No. 1036.

References: Psalms 51:17. E. Garbett, The Soul's Life,p. no; Bishop Temple, Rugby Sermons,3rd series, p. 99; J. E. Vaux, Sermon Notes,1st series, p. 40; R. M. McCheyne, Memoir and Remains,p. 393.