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Day 119

Psalm 51:8 "Make me hear joy and gladness..."

Day 119 – Psalm 51

“Make me hear joy and gladness…” Psalm 51:8

GREAT JOY FELT

David had experienced great joy in his life. How wonderful life seemed to be when one is filled with joy that came from his happy experiences with God. His prayers were answered. He had been delivered from the hand of his enemies. David wrote a good number of psalms that displayed wonderful joy.

GREAT SADNESS NOW

David knew that the spirit of joy was no longer there. Instead of joy, there was a sense of dread that his sin was still not fully purged and cleansed. Sin had affected him so badly that joy was all but evaporated.

FINDING JOY AGAIN

It would be pathetic and depressing if joy was completely eradicated from life. Joy was a gift from God to brighten life’s pathway. David sought the return of that spirit of joy in prayer.

“Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.”
Psalm 51:8

1. A graphic description of painful sadness

a) It is likened to broken bones.
b) Imagine the pain of many broken bones.
c) There is acute pain felt.
d) It was even more painful because God was the one who caused the pain.

2. Pleading restoration

a) Sin had robbed David of much joy.
b) But sin had already been confessed and thus dealt with.
c) God had surely forgiven, pardoned and cleansed.
d) There was one more plea to be made.
e) Would God restore “joy and gladness”?