Don’t Discard Me

Psalms 51:11-12 AMP
“Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.”

David had sinned in an extra marital affair. To cover his sin he had her husband killed in battle. Confronted by his sin, he repented to God with tears. This Psalm is his prayer, asking for mercy. In verse 11, David says “Do not cast me away from Your presence…” Abel, as recorded in Genesis 4:8, killed his brother and his punishment was to be banished from the presence of God. David could not stand the same punishment, he loved being in the presence of God, and sought to please God with his life.

In verse 11, David asked God, “…do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Saul, when he was king, sinned against God and God withdrew his Spirit from Saul. David asked God not to withdraw His Spirit from him because this would mean David would be without the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In verse 12, David asked of God, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Yes, David found great joy in his salvation, as we should. I have never lost that joy, but I have often asked God to restore to me the joy of my salvation as a reviving of that joy.

I love the last part of verse 12, David asked God to sustain a willing Spirit within him. That is asking God, “give me the will to obey you God!” I like that. I always want, no need God to give me the ability to obey Him. Yes we read His word, hear His voice and feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit but then we often fail to obey and do what He says.

Prayer:
Lord, I echo David’s words and mean it with all my heart, mind, soul and spirit; “Do not cast me away from Your presence (when I sin) And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me (when I disobey) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.”