Recently, I’ve been meditating on a biblical phrase that is, most likely, a common phrase for most of us who spend any time in the Psalms. It is found in Psalm 51. Now, most of us may quickly associate this Psalm with the penitent prayer of King David, after he was confronted and convicted of his sin with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband. If so, you are right. It starts with his plea: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions”.
Later in the Psalm, David boldly asks God to “create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me”. He pleads with God, “do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” You remember these words?
There is so much to glean from David’s posture before God, his personal cry for help, his position of transparency and humility in light of his sin, and his prophetic perspective regarding what God really wants from us in times of failure and restoration.
We could say a lot about all of that, but here is the phrase that I just can’t shake. In the midst of all of David’s personal repentance and penitent perspective in this Psalm, he asks God to “restore to me the joy of Your salvation”. I think there is a secret here, and I don’t want to miss it.
It is obviously no secret that sin saps spiritual strength from us. Sin also steals our faith perspective and seeks to decimate the hope that is necessary to endure hardship and receive the empowerment to continue walking out our divine purpose. Sin simply sucks the life of God from us and seeks to separate us from the power source of both mortal and eternal life.
Thank God there is a solution for sin. Man’s sin required a sinless sacrifice, and in God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies, He sent us a Savior to cover and cleanse humanity from our sins and restore our relationship and fellowship with the Father. John the Baptizer was the first to say it out loud, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
David preceded Jesus by about 28 generations, and yet, the revelation and understanding that David walked in provides a prophetic continuum that Jesus, the Son of David, confirmed through His life, His message and His ministry.
The birth of Jesus is heralded by an angel declaring, “For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day, in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
So, why did David ask God to “restore to me the joy of Your salvation,” in Psalm 51?
Quite simply, the restoration of joy in God’s salvation is a vital key to living an overcoming and victorious life. This theme is found all throughout the scriptures regarding all aspects of our lives here on earth.
When it comes to accomplishing monumental and difficult tasks, Nehemiah encouraged the people with these words, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
When it comes to overcoming challenges, trials and temptations, James reminds us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
When it comes to the sacrifice required to forge a faith future, Jesus provides us with an epic example, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
David really understood the power and importance of joy in God’s salvation. He writes, “The King shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly he shall rejoice.”
The prophet Isaiah affirms the significance of joy in his hymn of praise, "And in that day you will say: "O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.' “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
Jesus restored joy to this world.
Many years ago, my spiritual father, Revered Dick Iverson, made a statement in one of his many messages. It went something like this: “Happiness is based on happenings, but joy comes from Jesus.” What he was saying was that there is something more dependable than the mere pursuit of happiness. Often times we link our own happiness to the things that are happening or not happening around us. I’m happy if, or I’m happy when. I think you get the point.
The joy that comes from Jesus, however, is not based on external conditions or circumstances. His joy is internal as well as it is eternal. His joy is unaffected and untouched by outside forces. It’s His joy that becomes our strength. Jesus is our salvation. So, the restoration of the joy of God’s salvation is actually us receiving a reset to our original design and the ability to return to our full inheritance of the good promises of God. I believe that this is precisely what David was desiring when he prayed in Psalm 51, “restore to me the joy of Your salvation”.
Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples. He prayed, “that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves”. One translation says it this way, “that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
I don’t know about you, but I want that in my life. Can you imagine the full measure of Jesus joy in your life? Can you imagine walking in the power of what Peter declares, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.”
There is much uncertainty in this world. I get it. Hardships abound everywhere and yet Jesus reminds us that “these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
"Joy to the World" was written by English minister and hymnist Isaac Watts, based on a Christian interpretation of Psalm 98 and Genesis 3. He writes, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room”.
I supposes my simple prayer is that there would be a restoration of the joy of God’s salvation in all of our hearts this season. May every heart, indeed, prepare Him room. May the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and the wonders of His love, and may heaven and nature sing and repeat the sounding joy.
REFERENCES:
Psalm 51:1
Psalm 51:10-11
Psalm 51:12
John 1:29
Matthew 1:17
Luke 2:10-11
Nehemiah 8:10
James 1:2-3
Hebrews 12:1-3
Psalm 21:1
Isaiah 12:1-3
John 17:13
1 Peter 1:6-9
John 16:33
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World
