The assurance of God's forgiveness.
The psalmist had this, and his history is recorded for our help—for the help of all those who desire this assurance.
I. NOTE TO WHOM THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE IS GIVEN.
1. Not to every one. For many do not care for it—they think there is no need; they persuade themselves that God is easy, and will readily forgive. But this presumption is not God's assurance, for it gives them no settled rest; they have awful misgivings at times. It lasts only so long as their light notions of sin last. When they wake up to the reality of sin, then they are in despair. It awakes no love to God (cf. Luke 7:47); it produces no hatred of sin; if it did, it would lead to that which St. John says, "He that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure." Others there are who will not believe. How hard it is to persuade distressed souls that God does forgive!
2. But this assurance is given to such as are described in this psalm.
II. THE EVIDENCE ON WHICH IT RESTS.
1. It needs evidence; for conscience is against it; God's love is against it; the testimony of nature and science is against it; earthly governments do not forgive; we ourselves do not thus forgive. Therefore evidence for it is needed.
2. Such evidence is furnished by many fasts.
III. THE RESULTS THAT FOLLOW. God will be feared, that is, with the fear which love begets in a dear child. Such fear springs from no other source, but ever from this.—S.C.