Psalm 51:10-12

 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

David prayed these words, asking God to create within him a clean heart, after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba.  He knew he had sinned and needed God to give him a new heart.

Did you catch that part of the prayer where he asks that God not take His Holy Spirit from him?

But I thought the Holy Spirit did not come until the day of Pentecost in Acts, you might say.  Like I did some years ago when I didn't really know much about the Bible then.

However, He did exist then, just as God and Jesus did. (Another surprise to me was Jesus was here then as well.)

Well, I have to admit, those were things I had to learn as I got into God's Word and He showed me them.

Perhaps we can study the role of the Holy Spirt in the Old Testament one day soon. 

But for now, I digress.

David also asks God not to take His presence from Him. 

He needed God's presence to abide in him for the things he was going through. 

And lastly, He asked God to restore to him the joy of his salvation.

Was there a time when you were so happy that Jesus saved you from your sin. You rejoiced in absolute wonder that He would do that for you when you first realized that so many will go to hell.

It hit me like that once. But then, life happened. It got in the way of that joy and became heavy.

In 1974 I lost a baby to miscarriage, something so sad for me to talk about, but even knowing that he or she is in Heaven with Jesus.

Not only that, but some days it still does because I lost my parents a few years ago. (Thankfully they went to be with Jesus}

And even more recent, I lost my husband 2 years ago. (And so did he)

And over the years, I have lost so many of the pets that God has blessed me with to care for. 

All of these, if I let myself dwell on them can put me on a downhill slide. 

And yet, I can also choose not to stay there long. For my joy really comes from God and knowing that He giveth and He taketh away. (Job 1:21}

It is not given to me by the world. Not by the fake words of what a certain Presidental hopeful was trying to preach at a church recently.

The joy of salvation:

It comes from God alone. And when I get sad, I know that the Holy Spirit Himself is with me to comfort me. (John 14:26)

It came to David at a time he needed it. And it can come to you as you need it. 

And Friends, I think as this presidential race continues and then is decided, we should probably do well to remember and think on real joy very soon. And pray that God will not let us forget it, because we may really need it then. Even more than ever.

Thanks for coming. God bless you and keep you today!