Psalm 51 – Restoring Joy

Allowing God to have the wheel in our lives

I’m not a huge fan of country music anymore, but I heard a song that has been out for some time now that made me think. The title of the song is “Jesus Take the Wheel.” Of course I have heard it on Christian music radio too. The title of that song is appropriate for each and every child of God. I have listened to it thoroughly and the story is of a woman who was given a wake up call. She almost had a wreck and let go of the wheel and asked Jesus to take control. She makes it safely to the side of the road and promptly starts admitting to God that she hasn’t been living right and ask HIM to take the wheel in her life and help her in that area.
Amazingly enough, this song should call out to all of us. Just as many of you may have to do at times, I find myself searching, at times, to find Christ in my life; where HE is suppose to be. Oh, there are some out in this world that would probably claim that they have Jesus right where HE is supposed to be at all times. However, I’m reminded of a man named David. In 2 Samuel chapter 11, David commits two sins. He commits adultery with Bathsheba and then commits murder by putting her husband, Uriah, on the front lines of battle where he is killed. He proceeds to go on with his life as if nothing has happened, but God knew what happened and wasn’t about to allow David to forget. Case and point;

WE MAY DO THINGS IN SECRET BUT GOD KNOWS OUR SECRETS

Nathan was sent to David by the Lord in 2 Samuel 12:1 – 12, and he told David a story, which angered David greatly. David had declared that this man would repay the debt he now owed. Nathan used four words that struck David like a knife. He said, “THOU ART THE MAN.” The Lord told David that HE knew what was going on. He told David of the things he would have to endure at a later date. However in verse 13, we see the David confesses. “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” Case and point;

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS HE WILL FORGIVE US.

Confession is the key to the whole thing. Admitting you are wrong is one of the hardest things that a person can do. The Lord had showed David that HE knew what had happened and he used Nathan to convey the message. Because of David’s confession, he was told that he would not die. However, there was still a penalty to pay. He lost his first child by Bathsheba. God took him, and this was just a beginning of David’s woes. You may be asking where my point is on my statement about the song, “Jesus Take the Wheel.” In Psalms 51, there is a prayer that David could have been praying while he was on the ground just before his son’s life was lost. In this prayer you see that the focus is totally upon him and his relationship with the LORD. Case and point;

WHEN WE PRAY WE NEED TO FOCUS UPON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

David’s prayer is one of total repentance. Total repentance is admitting you are wrong and asking the LORD to help you turn from your wicked ways. If you know what you are doing is wrong and you confess it, then you must ask the LORD to take the wheel in you life, and be willing to do what HE leads you to do. In Psalm 51:6, David said, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” God desires for us to be honest, not only with HIM, but with ourselves. We can convince ourselves we are right in whatever we may do, but if we are wrong, we must accept responsibility. In verse 7 – 12 we find that David is asking the LORD to forgive him. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which THOU hast broken may rejoice. Hide THY face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 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.” What a tremendous prayer! Notice that David is totally dependant upon God. Case and point;

WE NEED TO DEPEND UPON GOD TO STEER OUR LIVES

We must focus upon our relationship with HIM. HE is supposed to be our guide. However, until we see exactly where we stand with HIM, we can’t serve HIM the way we should. The hyssop that David talked about was a plant that had a strong pleasant smell to it. Webster said it smelled like mint. However, it was used to cover the stench of the bad scent of the sin that David had committed to the Lord. David was totally dependant on God. He asked the LORD to create in him a clean heart. We should pray this prayer daily. To honor the request of David’s final request, the Lord had to create a clean heart in HIM. David wanted the LORD to restore the joy of HIS salvation unto to him. David knew that the salvation he had was of the LORD and not of himself. However, David wanted his joy back. He had lost focus upon the things that were important. Case and point;

WE NEED OUR JOY RESTORED

I can only speak for myself, but many Christians have so much junk in their lives that they have lost focus of Christ. His salvation should be of the most important thing in our lives. However, many saved people have lost the joy of HIS salvation. We get so focused upon self, that we allow the things of this world to blind us and we leave our first love. There is a point in each child of God’s life that we need to regain control of our lives, both morally and spiritually. This starts with confession, then asking the Lord to forgive us, and the requesting that HE take the wheel in our lives and take us in the direction HE desires for us to go. If we are able to do that, HE will not steer us wrong.
Lord, please take the wheel in my life and help me to go in YOUR desired direction. Restore unto each child of God the joy of YOUR salvation and show us YOUR purpose for our lives. Amen