October 13
The Backslider's Prayer
The Christian's Daily Treasury"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation."—Psalms 2:12.
THREE things are here mentioned concerning David.
THE ENJOYMENT HE HAD EXPERIENCED. "The joy of thy salvation." Salvation is inseparably connected with joy. This joy is divine in its source. It is derived from God, who is the fountain of bliss. Salvation is of the Lord in its device, accomplishment, and application. Glorious in its object. "Thy salvation." The Christian rejoices in every thing that concerns God, but especially in his salvation; because it includes every spiritual blessing which the soul stands in need of. Delightful in its effects. It leads the mind to God, in holy thoughts, desires, and affections; elevates the soul above worldly objects; and humbles the spirit before God.
THE LOSS HE HAD SUSTAINED. This is implied in his praying for a restoration of this joy. It is possible for a Christian to lose his joy in God's salvation. Let us inquire whence this arises. From neglect of communion with God. Apostacy, says Henry, begins at the closet door. From indifference to public ordinances. It is a bad sign when there is little or no relish for the services of the sanctuary: when this is the case, the soul cannot be in a healthy, prosperous state. From allowed sin. It is folly to think of retaining the joy of God's salvation, while we are living in the neglect of any known duty, or the commission of any known sin.
THE DESIRE HE EXPRESSED. He prays for a restoration of joy. Believers from various causes may lose for a time their joy; but, says one, the wind shall not always bowl, nor dull eddying vapors float along the sky; the warm sunbeam shall yet break out from behind the cloud; and the flowers which were almost broken in the blast, shall again lift up their heads. God has several ways of restoring his people's joy. He does it by affliction — by his word — by his Spirit — and by leading us afresh to the cross.
"The cross! it takes our guilt away; It holds the fainting spirit up; It cheers with hope the gloomy day, And sweetens every bitter cup."