Psalm 51 - When Waiting Upon the Lord

Summer in the Psalms

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Crying out to God - we usually find ourselves here when God's timing and or ways is different from that of our own.

Today, a dear friend of mine and Dubya's, R.J. Hester, is sharing his reflection of Psalm 51 with us and guiding us through a prayer David prayed to be strengthened as he waited upon the Lord.

Rodney Hester, known as R.J. to many who know him well, serves at Crossings Community Church in OKC as a Graduate Resident for Kids Ministries. He and Will like to ditch the cordial handshake and wrap each other up in a big bear hug when they see each other. I pray this reflection feels a bit like that - a warm embrace from a good friend.

Our God and His timing often do not line up with the plans that we make for ourselves.

And I just imagine God is sitting on the throne with His loving heart and just waiting on us when all that seems to be happening in our world is that we are waiting on Him. What does one do when waiting upon the Lord and feel Him testing us to grow in our faith? God’s voice as I have learned is crystal clear when our eyes are on Him, but when we get to looking around is when trouble starts.

This is where we find the author in Psalm 51. David has found himself at a low. He is

crying out to God in prayer. Some would focus on the trend of events that have led to David

crying out in prayer. But today we will focus on the words of his prayer. And while part of the

story is still unfolding, because God is patient in His promises (2 Peter 3:9), there was fruit to David crying out to God the Father. We will look at three verses today and reflect on how we can turn David’s prayer into the good day, one at a time.

David says,

Do not take me away from your presence And do not take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11 NASB)

Now us as believers who know the promises of God from the New Testament is that Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit will always be with us. (John 14:6) But here David in the Old Testament is crying out that God would not take the Holy Spirit that is a pledge of the eternal promise that we have in Christ. (Ephesians 1:13-14) David knows that apart from

God he can do nothing (John 15:5), and he needs the Holy Spirit of the Lord to empower and equip him to fulfill the calling and ministry that God has prepared beforehand so that he can walk in it. (Ephesians 2:10)

Then David goes on to say,

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

Here David is expressing the joy that comes from the Salvation that we have with God. It reminds me of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians where he says, “rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). It is not often easy to rejoice when we find ourselves receiving a pruning from the Lord, especially when we have made our own beds, and He is

simply allowing us to lay in it. But the joy of the salvation that we have in God through the spilt blood of Jesus on the Cross brings a joy will not fade. David further ask for a willing spirit, and this is war, because we all have that flesh in us that simultaneously that wants to rebel against God, but we can make our spirit obedient to Gods will for our lives and not satisfy the desires of the flesh by walking by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-17)

And finally, David tells God what he will do if He does not take away the Holy Spirit and

the joy that comes through his salvation. David states,

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You. (Psalm 51:13 NASB)

This verse speaks to me because David is not only repenting but has a plan and a willing Spirit to walk in the ways of God and listen to His voice. David in a way is sharing his testimony, because with the willing Spirit he is now in his crying out to God stating that he will teach others so that the Holy Spirit can work in them to turn back to God as he has done. In David’s crying out to God we learn the ways of God, that he is patient and loving even when we falter, and His love is not dependent on our faithfulness but on his promises, which he always keeps. (2 Timothy 2:13)

Now, It's Your Turn!

I challenge you to take a moment to pray, then read or listen to Psalm 51 today. Think about what stands out to you. Consider writing down a statement of faith. It may help to think of this as an I-statement. Maybe yours is similar to R.J.'s:

When I am waiting upon the Lord, I can cry out to God in prayer like David did and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Then, jot down a question to think about today. Maybe yours is similar to RJ's:

Is my spirit within me willing to walk in the ways of God and listen to His voice?

May this reflection lead our hearts to gratitude and praise today and may we stand in victory against the tactics and schemes of the enemy.

And praise God for refreshment as we are intentional to spend a summer in the Psalms together, for if we want His truth to ever be on our lips, it must first be planted in our hearts.

Our strength grows as we rely on strength from above. Our joy grows as we see God transforming us from the inside out. Our peace grows as we spend time in God's presence, and we find rest when we intentionally seek the Lord first in our lives, for the Lord is ever our portion.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.