Wednesday, December 17, 2014

One of my favorite psalms of David and one we can often identify with, perhaps because it is a psalm of repentance, is Psalm 51. It was written after David was confronted by the prophet Nathan concerning his adulterous affair with Bath-sheba, and although I'm far from being a certified bible scholar, it is obvious that he went through an extended stretch where he knew that his fellowship with God had been broken, because of his wicked escapade, before he did anything about it. He may have gone even further in this interrupted relationship had not the prophet appeared to apprise him of God's complete knowledge of the affair and His displeasure concerning it. The entire story is found in 2 Samuel 11-12.

It was after God demanded an answer from him that David finally saw the wickedness of his sin and was reminded of the misery, heartbreak, fear, and lack of inner peace he experienced all the time he was separated from the sweet fellowship he had enjoyed with the Lord beforehand. The first thing that David was reminded of was that anytime we sin, it is God against whom we sin first, thus his words: "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight." (verse 4) Then he was reminded that the Lord requires complete honesty of His children at all times. Concerning that truth, he wrote: "Surely you desire truth in the inward parts." (verse 6) There is so much teaching and instruction in this psalm but the truth I want to focus on today is the misery and lost joy God's children experience when they stray from Him. David expressed it this way: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation." (verse 12)

If this happened to David, it can happen to any of us. It is quite possible, then, that one of you who is reading this blog today is going through such a period. For whatever reason, you know for a fact that the love, joy, excitement, peace, assurance, and enthusiasm you had before in your relationship with Christ is missing. If it has gotten to the point where it is really beginning to wear on you, why not do what David did? Why not ask the Lord to return you to the place where you once were, namely the "joy of your salvation"? If the Lord answered David's wholehearted prayer, He will answer yours too. After all, Christ came to this world so that we could enjoy an abundant life. (See John 10:10) It is time to start living again.

Memory verse for the week: (John 3:16) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever will believe on Him, will not perish but have everlasting life."