Upheld By Your Spirit

Psalm 51:12

New King James Version

12 

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

What does Psalm 51:12 mean?

It has been said that sin “causes the cup of joy to spring a leak.” It certainly drained David’s cup of joy. He urgently asked God to restore the joy of his salvation. Adultery and murder had caused David to lose his joy and become depressed. Only God could restore the lost joy. It is far better to obey than to deliberately disobey, planning to later seek remedial help.

Jesus promised His abiding joy to those who keep His commandments. He said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:10–11). In addition to David’s request for restored joy, he asked God to uphold him with a willing spirit. Such a spirit would keep David committed to God’s will and prevent him from falling into sin again.

Context Summary

Psalm 51:8–15 express David’s prayer for renewed joy, a clean heart, and a renewed spirit. This comes after confessing his sins in the prior passage. David also asks the Lord to restore his testimony so that he might teach transgressors the ways of God and lead sinners back to Him. David wants to praise the Lord joyfully.

Chapter Summary

This psalm opens with David’s plea to God to show him mercy. He asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash his iniquities, and cleanse him from sin. He admits his sinning was against God. He also confesses his human sin nature. David asks God to make him as white as snow by purging him with hyssop. He longs for joy to return to him, but knows he was suffering because God had turned away from him. He pleads with God for a clean heart and a right spirit. He does not want God to cast him aside and remove His Holy Spirit. David longs for a renewal of the joy of his salvation. If cleansing from sin occurred and joy returned to him, David would teach transgressors God’s ways, and sinners would be converted. He promises near the end of the psalm to declare God’s praise if God would forgive him. He knew it would be futile to offer a sacrifice to God, because God delights in a broken and contrite heart and not in sacrifices offered with an unrepentant heart. David closes the psalm with a prayer for God to bless Jerusalem

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

With so many negative things in this world and a negative year within 2020 alone it is hard to stimulate our joys we should be practicing praise in everything instead of worries giving us positive thoughts instead of negative thoughts prayers for joy and positive energy faith over fear pushing all negative energy away everything negative is of the devil not of God

My Prayer

Father you are an all knowing God your spirit is with us always knowing our situations in life and for each of us having our own struggles causing negative attention may we pray for the remembrance of the power of the happiness of your salvation in us reminding us of faith over fear in all situations validating us positive and praise and joys by your abundant spirit bless us in everything in honor of you