The Joy of Thy Salvation: Thoughts on Psalm 51

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 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 uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.” - Psalm 51:10-13

I once heard a distinction made about this passage, referring specifically to the phrase “restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” It is easy to become spiritually discouraged at times, to feel alienated from the Lord, to struggle with Christian duties, and above all, to lose the joy of being a Christian. We look back on times of joy and great spiritual blessings, and it is easy to become despondent during times when we find ourselves so far from that state. But perhaps we look in the wrong place for that joy to return.

The distinction I heard—I believe it was through a story our pastor once told—was of a man despairing at how he had lost the joy of his salvation, until a friend reminded him that it was not the joy of his salvation, but the joy of Christ’s salvation. David does not beg the Lord to “restore to me the joy of my salvation” but to “restore to me the joy of THY salvation.” When we look to ourselves—my experience of salvation, my joy in the Lord, my spiritual encouragement—it is, of course, incredibly easy to become discouraged. Why? Because our hearts are sinful! This is why we are directed to look to Christ, and not to ourselves.

The joy of my salvation will never be evident unless I see it as the joy of His salvation. My spiritual zeal and encouragement does not come from looking into my own heart, but from looking to the cross and to Christ, at whose feet my burden fell.

Lord, never restore to me the joy of MY salvation, but always restore to me the joy of THY salvation!