Sin Confessed, Joy Restored

Restore to me the joy of thy salvation. (Psalm 51:12)

Ps. 51; II Sam. 11:15, 12:1-10; Ps. 130:1-4, Jn. 8:3-11; I Pet. 5:8

What Is God Saying?

Psalm 51 flows like a fountain of tears from David the greatest of Kings, when he saw himself as the greatest of sinners. He had sinned. His lust for Bathsheba led to adultery and murder. David wrote to Joab, commander of his forces, telling him to place Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband ‘in the forefront of the hottest battle’ and then to draw back, leaving him defenceless—adultery plus murder, both premeditated.

In repentance, David found forgiveness, but the prophet Nathan confronted him with the blunt, piercing words, ‘Thou art the man.’ He told David God would forgive him, but ‘the sword would not depart from his house.’ It didn't. His daughter was raped by her brother, who was then murdered by his brother, who was later killed in a rebellion against his father. Such was the fearful cost of David’s sin.

How Does This Apply To Us?

True penitence always brings forgiveness. God will not despise ‘the broken heart’ (51:17). David cried ‘out of the depths’ (Ps. 130:1). No sin is too great to be forgiven. The greatest sinner can again have a ‘clean heart (51: 10) filled with joy and gladness’ (51:8). ‘The joy of God's salvation can be restored’ (51:12).

When sin is popularized in our culture, it tends to desensitize us to the attack of Satan, our great enemy, prowling around like a hungry lion, looking for a victim (I Pet. 5:8). Fight the enemy, not God. Choose the true; reject the false. The joy brought to you will become joy brought through you.

Pray With Me

Lord, salvation is Your gift. It is the reason Jesus came into this world. It is the plan of Your wisdom and the purpose of Your love that I might receive all joy. Salvation is the peace that calms all fears. Salvation is the solid rock that gives me solid footing. Because Heaven is on the horizon, I can now be of earthly use. May I receive and share the joy of salvation.

The joy of Your salvation is the choicest of all gifts, yet I have at times chosen to leave it behind or lock it away when it should be shared. So, dear Lord, ‘restore to me the joy of thy salvati0n. Then I will teach transgressors thy ways.’ Through me show that: salvation is not just being rescued from defeat, it is being assured of victory; salvat10n is not just closing the door on evil, it is opening the door to good; salvati0n is not just exposing the false, it is revealing the true; salvation is not just saying no to false dreams, it is saying yes to real joy that will last forever.

For His sake who said, ‘These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.’ Amen

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

We kneel penitently in prayer to be lifted joyfully into sound and healthy living. We kneel down to be lifted up. No one who has come in true repentance to the Lord has ever been or ever will be turned away. Prayer is not only a time of confession it becomes a time of possession. Sin confessed is joy restored. When laid on the altar of prayer, all the right pieces of the broken heart are brought back together. That is what it means to restore the joy of God's salvation.

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Not Ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord

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In God Old and New Are Both Good