text:_ More Psalm 51 Reflections

I don’t remember exactly when, but at some point in my life I went on an underlining-spree and decided to underline the Bible verses that were most meaningful to me. Psalm 51 was one of the sections that got enthusiastically attacked, and one passage in particular got underlined three times in dark blue ink: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”

It’s always been very easy for me to lose the joy of my salvation. In fact, it’s usually the first thing that goes. I get bogged down in guilt, discouraged by inadequacy, and overwhelmed with life in general. I find myself half-waiting for God to punish me for all the ways I’ve failed. The idea of joy, of delighting in God and of God delighting in me, becomes a distant memory.

In the midst of my condemnation, I forget that “gospel” means “good news” and that for as much time as David spends confessing and repenting in the psalms, he also laughs, dances, sings, and shouts with the joy of the Lord—“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song” (Psalm 98:4); “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:2); “You turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Psalm 30:11). David is not just relieved that God has chosen him, or content in his salvation, but he is filled with such an overpowering sense of gratitude and delight that he can’t be still, silent, or sad. (Think of a Red Sox fan when they finally won the World Series—that was joy).

Although Psalm 51 is a psalm of repentance and was written in response to some weighty sins, David has also not forgotten that an important part of righting his relationship with God is rejoicing in all that God has done for him. While sinfulness is a real and serious subject, knowing the seriousness of my sin makes me all the more joyful that God has chosen to love me and save me. So, as evidenced by my underlining, I find myself echoing David’s prayer again and again: restore to me the joy of your salvation.