Robin Hardy Online
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This is called the Penitent Psalm. A careful study of it will reflect the past experience of the writer. He had done some great wrong. It will also betray the secret desire of the heart. It is filled with shame, remorse, and concern. Let us see what the text reveals:
I. There Is Joy in Salvation
1. There are two extreme views held about this. One is that salvation is a sane, cold-blooded, rationalistic thing, one decides to quit some things and to begin doing some other
things. The opposite view is that Salvation is all emotion, shouting, weeping, screaming. Both views are extreme.
2. Joy accompanies salvation, but it is no part of it, nor is it always final proof of it. There may be
salvation without it, and there may be joy without salvation. Be not confused.
3. Joy is the natural response in the human heart to some extended favor. It often finds expression in human relationships; when we accept
Christ, and believe His promises, and realize the blessings that are ours, who could keep from being happy?
II. The Joy May Be Lost
1. That is what had taken place in the heart of the Psalmist. His prayer is a sad confession of it.
2. In essence, Salvation and Joy are far apart: Salvation is from God, the joy is the human response. Salvation is eternal—joy is transient. Salvation is not affected by anything; joy is affected by everything.
3. Joy is a very unstable quality, rising, falling, overflowing, and perishing utterly.
III. The Lost Joy May Be Obtained Again
1. For this the Psalmist hungered and prayed.
2. But it cannot be found until the rubbish that covered it is removed, and the filth that stained it is taken away.
3. Joy is found in obedience, not rebellion. It is found in fellowship, not in discord. It is found in activity, not in negativeness.
from Sermons in the Making by W.W. Melton; posted Sept. 15, 2007
