Restoration of Joy (1/25/2026)

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit” (Psalm 51:12).

David cannot seem to get over the fact that he has sinned, thus breaking his relationship with God; and he wants to renew that relationship. “Joy” and “salvation” are significant words in this passage.

“Joy” is something that “causes great pleasure and happiness”; and, in a spiritual context, “salvation” means “deliverance from sin and its consequences,” brought about by a working faith in God in David’s case and the same kind of faith in Christ in our case. By following scriptural teaching, we can experience “joy” in our salvation, made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus.

The assurance of salvation, promised in Scripture, should be enough to bring any individual great joy: the prospect of an eternity with God far outweighs the consequences of living a life of pleasure here and being separated from God forever.

By example, David teaches us the proper attitude toward salvation as he begs for a full restoration of that “joy” he had experienced at one time because of  his relationship with God.