Devotions: Restoration and Joy

 

Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:11-12 New American Standard Bible 1995

 

This psalm was written by David after being confronted about his sin with Bathsheba. He had committed adultery with another man’s wife, and not just any man, but one of his 33 “mighty men” who stayed true to him while he was in exile. Then, when he found out she was pregnant and couldn’t get the man to sleep with his wife to cover it up, he plotted to have the man killed. It wasn’t until a prophet came to him that he confessed his sin.
These two verses have an either or presentation. Remember this was before the time of Christ, so the Holy Spirit did not live in the hearts of all believers. He was only temporarily given to some when it was necessary. David had this gift, and he knew that sin grieved the Spirit and could justly cause him to lose it because God cannot be in the presence of sin. He begged God to cleanse him and rather than taking the Spirit away from him, to restore salvation and renew his spirit. David was a man after God’s heart, which means that he desired to have the heart of God, not that he was perfect. These verses show that. In spite of his sin, he still longed to be close to God. Sin generally causes us to want to hide, but David turned to God instead of away from Him. He implored God to renew him, to make him willing to obey Him. He longed for the presence of God more than anything else. Salvation and the presence of God gave him joy like nothing else could.

Do you find joy in the salvation and presence of God? Do you desire to obey Him? How do you respond to sin, do you hide from or turn toward God? Ask God to give you a heart like David, one that desires Him above all else. Ask Him to help you find joy in Him and the things of Him. Ask Him to forgive your sin and to give you a willing spirit.

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