The Joy of Salvation and the Pain Felt when Lost Scripture Reading: Ps 51:12

Introduction Psalm 51 has been termed a Psalm of Confession and A Prayer of Repentance This Psalm shows a man in deep sorrow trying to get right with God once again after a personal failure We can all identify with this Psalm because we all have in the past, and will in the future, face failure The focus for this lesson will based on the statements made in Verse 12

David had at one time known the joy of salvation The term “restore” indicates that it was once possessed There are several Psalms that speak of the joy David had experienced Ps 9:1 “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. Ps 16:9 “9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.” Ps 21:1 “21 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!” Some reasons for this joy One is in the presence of the Lord One has the assurance of Heaven One experiences complete forgiveness This joy is available to us all today through the Gospel (Jn 3:16)

David lost the joy of his salvation The term “restore” also indicates that he does not possess it right now Like David, we to can lose our salvation Rom 11:22 “22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” 1 Cor 9:27 “27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” Gal 5:1, 4 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage…4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Heb 3:6, 14 “6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end…14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,”

David lost the joy of his salvation Some indications one has lost the joy of their salvation They are consumed with gloom where once there was joy They feel burdened when they previously felt blessed They appear more bitter where once they were filled with song They seem to be pouting over things where once they were praising God There are many who can remember “better days” Are you one of them?

David desired to once again feel the joy of his salvation “Restore” was part of his prayer to get back what he had lost This is a prayer for his joy to come back What is the road back to this joy? You must remember God and the blessings he has offered you…you must also remember and appreciate how good life was following after Him You must have faith that if you truly are repentant God can, and will, forgive (cf. Heb 11:6) You must confess your sin and pray for forgiveness (Ps 51:1-4) Do you long for the joy of salvation to return? Are you willing to follow the road back to God? If so, you can have it

Conclusion Psalm 32 provides another view of David Ps 32:1-5 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Have you been forgiven? Your joy will return to you as you return to the Lord confessing you sin