Restore to Me
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Restore to Me
Have you ever lost something that just tears you all up? In utter grief, you feel devastated and ruined because of your loss. You think nothing in this world can restore your loss. But, all things are possible with God. God can restore what we have lost — and He longs to restore what is vital to us.
King David lost his integrity and blamelessness before the LORD. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and even had her husband, Uriah, killed in battle in an effort to cover up his sin. David had gone from good to bad to worse. And then, mercifully, he was caught and exposed. David had no recourse. He had to turn to God for help, mercy, and forgiveness. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer before the LORD. In that prayer, David reveals a truth for each of us to learn in our times of devastation. It is in Psalm 51:12-13,
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation,
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways,
And sinners will be converted to Thee.
David’s sins of adultery and murder took away all of his joy before the LORD — a terrible loss. Now, all he could feel before the LORD was guilt and remorse. His sins made him feel filthy and he realized how horribly he had sinned against the loving, holy Lord. David knew there was pure joy in a good relationship with the Lord, and so he prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation.” Only God can forgive us and make us clean in His sight again.
David remembered God’s almighty greatness and compassion, so he asked for more — “sustain me with a willing spirit.” David knew that he had sinned because he had not been willing to do what he knew was right in God’s sight. He really needed to have a willingly obedient heart again. Only God could give him willing obedience, like he used to have. David definitely did not want to be suckered into more and more sin — and end up in hell. He felt bad enough as it was and wanted to know the joy of living according to God’s will again.
David could pray and believe for this much relief and restoration because he trusted in the LORD’s love and compassion in our every situation. But, David did not want to be fruitless in receiving these great gifts from God. David wanted to show his thankfulness for God’s mercy. David knew how there are many people in this world, who don’t go to God for forgiveness when they have sinned — simply because they don’t feel they can be forgiven.
God is much greater than all of our sins. He is able to forgive. We just have to trust in His love and salvation in Jesus Christ. David was willing to expose all his sins before the people and tell others about God’s great power to forgive all our sins. David’s whole life would be proof that God truly forgives when we go to Him in prayer.
So, David has literally been teaching people about God’s love and forgiveness, through his confessional psalms, his thanksgivings, and his renewed efforts to live according to God’s will. David’s psalms have been witnessing to people for around 3,000 years now. David knew that God would cause this witness to last, and so he wrote,
Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways,
And sinners will be converted to Thee.
We are the sinners and transgressors that need to be converted and return to the God of all mercy and love. We are to let David’s experience restore us to a good relationship with the LORD of lords, our Redeemer and Savior. As forgiven sinners, we can witness to other sinners in need of forgiveness. And, we need to witness to them, so that they too, can escape the due judgments of hell.
Because we have been loved by God, we need to share that love with those around us — like King David did. As we share the love of God with the world around us, we say, “Hallelujah! Lord Jesus, You have delivered us from the consequences of our sins. Open up our mouths to witness to the greatness of Your love.”
Love,
Margaret
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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods
Pray for our country.
This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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