And in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom

6 And in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.’ — Ver. 6&.

THIS word appears to be a transition from the conf ession of sin to the prayer for redemption. God desires truth in the inward parts. To this thought David is led by the confession of his inborn sin. It was not only his transgression, but also his very nature, that made him worthy of rejection before God. He cannot by nature stand before the holy Searcher of hearts, who desires truth in the very depths of the heart. But this thought leads him again back to God, who alone has the power to bestow truth in the inward parts.

The very fact which has brought him low, namely, that God cannot be content with less than truth, also lifts him up again. If the grace of God receives him, then it will bestow upon him nothing less. In the hidden parts God makes him to know wisdom. There is here in the midst of his prayer an expression of the hope that God will make known to him the way to be redeemed from sin; and that deep and penetrating as the power of sin was, such also his knowledge of grace shall be. He trusts that the spiritual insight into the way of redemption which he desires to walk in shall be communicated to him by God Himself.

The whole Psalm is indeed a proof that thus it actually was so. We have in this Psalm the first clear explanation of the washings and sprinkling of the blood of the temple service, and the spiritual significance of the Old Testament sacrifices. The connection betwixt the forgiveness of sins and the renewing of the heart is presented in his prayer as clearly as almost anywhere else in the Old Testament. His hope was not in vain. ‘In the hidden parts Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.5

The anxious sinner who is seeking the wav of grace may perhaps think that in this verse he lias not so much as in others. Its instruction, however, is of the very highest value. In the prayer for grace this word is entirely indispensable.

It teaches you that the true knowledge of the way of grace mast he sought from God Himself. He alone can make you know the hidden wisdom. The human knowledge of the way of grace which we obtain by the use of our understanding is not sufficient. Mark well: we do not say that this knowledge is not necessary. But this knowledge is not enough. That I think that this knowledge is necessary, this very book which I write is a proof. I am afraid that there

HAVE MERCY UPOX ME.

is a great lack of this knowledge, even of the intelligent understanding of the way of grace. I am afraid many have very imperfect conceptions of what grace is, and how it redeems the sinner: of what the blotting out of transgressions, and the washing away of unrighteousness, and the cleansing of sin is; of what the terrible nature of sin is, and very much more that is taught in this glorious Psalm. And I consider it of the utmost importance that concerning these points clear convictions should be obtained. For without clear knowledge faith cannot be clear and powerful and joyful. 6 Understandest thou what thou readest? ’ was the first question of the preacher of the gospel: ‘Believest thou with all thine heart? ’ the second. Such an intelligent understanding of the way of grace is of great value.

But this is not enough. It is possible that one may have a well-nigh perfect knowledge of God’s word and yet be lost. And when we have clear insight into the way of the truth of God, we run just as much risk of resting content with it. When one who is indifferent begins to be earnest, and then obtains an insight into God’s wonderful redemption, such knowledge sometimes yields him great joy. When he begins to obtain some right conception of the plan of redemption in Christ, of His atonement, of God’s righteousness, of the new birth, he sees such a suitability and glory in it all that he is filled with admiration and gladness. But then he runs great risk of resting in this. He feels a very great difference in himself in comparison with, the time when he remained in indifference or in ignorance. A great change has taken place in him, and yet it may be that he has not yet obtained an inward experiential spiritual knowledge of redemption. On this account, when an anxious soul is seeking to understand the way of grace in this Psalm, it becomes a matter of very much importance that he should feel deeply his dependence upon God; that at every verse and every word he should lift up the prayer: 6 Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation 5; that he should continually use, for example, the prayers of Ps. xxv. and Ps. cxix. in order to obtain the heavenly divine instruction of the Spirit in this hidden wisdom. O thou who art longing for salvation, it is an amazing thought that one may be occupied with divine truths and yet be lost after all. Perhaps some one thinks that such a representation is sufficient to make one altogether dispirited. It would indeed be so were it not that we can say in this prayer: ‘In the hidden parts Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.’ God gives the wisdom. This is our only security, and that is the only answer that we can give to the question: How do we know if we have a right spiritual knowledge of grace? The Lord can and will make you assured of this. Conversion, faith, is not a work that you must do, and on which you can look back and say, 6 That is well done.’ No: the innermost essence of conversion and faith consists in coming to God, in surrender to God, in receiving from God the living God, grace to be worked out by Him, in being washed and purified from sin by Him. And just at this point is there in the religion of many so much defect. They do not know that in grace the principal element is that we must come into contact with the living God, and must experience the power of the Almighty.

O soul longing for salvation, true religion is a divine and spiritual thing. The whole work from beginning to end is a wonderful work of the holy God in the soul. The first desire for grace, spiritual wisdom, the growing sense of sin, faith in the blood of Jesus, the renewing of the Holy Spirit — everything is wrought by God in the soul. Oh let it be a matter of deep earnestness with you. If you are seeking to walk in the way of grace after the footsteps of David in this Psalm, go to God with every verse, and in every experience of perplexity cast yourself upon God and ask of Him that step by step and word by word He would fulfill in you this promise: ‘In the hidden parts Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.’