This morning,
as I was continuing to ponder the wonders of rejoicing in the Lord always,[1]
another verse on joy popped into my head with the words, “restore to me the joy of your salvation.” When I looked up the
verse, I realized that the context was David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm
51. The whole verse reads, “Restore to me
the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”[2]
David had
lost his joy because he had fallen into sin.[3] Along
with his repentance, he acknowledged that there was only one way that he could
return to joy, and that was if God restored his joy. Except, that it wasn’t
just returning David to any kind of joy whatsoever. David wanted to feel the “joy of your salvation” once again.
Many of us
know what it is like to feel satisfied in something we have accomplished. Even
just making a good choice to do a good thing that results in a good effect for
someone else, can leave us feeling happy with the outcome.
But, what
about when we have sinned so grievously that we have no defense even attempting
to justify our actions? What about when we have done something so grievous that
the whole world knows we have sinned, that we have violated the relationship
with God in which we have publicly boasted for a long time?
David’s boast
was that there was still the possibility of joy in God’s salvation. He did not
expect God to overlook his sin, but he did expect God to save him from his sin.
He did not come to God with all the sacrifices he was willing to do to make up
for what he had done wrong. He honored God by expressing that there was only
one thing that could return him to joy, and that was if God exercised
everything to do with divine salvation from sin.
I urge you to
read the whole of Psalm 51 for your benefit.[4]
You will see an overwhelming picture of David’s trust, and faith, and hope in
God cleansing him, forgiving him, and restoring him to joy. It is the same hope
as the believer in Jesus Christ today, except that now we understand God’s gift
of salvation comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
David clearly
knew God was gracious and merciful to sinners like himself. The Psalm-writer
declared in Psalm 130: “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But
with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”[5]All the leaders of Israel’s
worship knew that “you, O Lord, are good
and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”[6]
What really stood out to me today is
that, when we are called to “rejoice in
the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice,”[7]the emphasis is to
rejoice “in the Lord.” The world, the
flesh, and the devil, are intent to “steal
and kill and destroy”[8] not only our joy, but
our whole salvation! However, our constant focus in the Lord Jesus Christ
constantly restores us to joy, and gives us cause for rejoicing in him always.
If our concept of returning to joy
does not center on God’s gift of salvation, even a whole lifetime of worldly
happiness will be like dew that disappears in the morning sun. Only when we
rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, and his salvation for his brothers, can we
know what it is like for God to return us to joy.
After all, it is still completely true
of the One True God that, “You make known
to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your
right hand are pleasures forevermore.”[9]Of course, such a Father
as this is able to return us to joy, both now, and forevermore. Even from sin.
© 2015 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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