Make Me Hear Joy and Gladness - Psalms 51:8

In Psalms chapter fifty one David told God, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”, and in chapter fifty-one and verse eight of Psalms David told God, “make me to hear joy and gladness”, where we read,

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

The verse begins, “Make me to hear joy and gladness;” David began with the words, “make me to hear joy” or “cause me, Jehovah God, to listen, perceive and pay attention to gladness, exultation and rejoicing” “and gladness” which means “and mirth, gaiety, pleasure and happiness”. David appealed to Jehovah God to cause him to perceive and give attention to gladness, rejoicing, gaiety and pleasure.

The verse goes on to say, “that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.” David continued with the words, “that the bones” or “so the limbs, essence and substance” “which you have broken” which means “that you, Jehovah God, have crushed, made contrite and collapsed” “may rejoice” or “might exult, be glad and joyful”. David wanted his substance and essence which was “crushed and collapsed” by Jehovah God to be made to be glad and joyful.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how David wanted Jehovah God to allow him to perceive gladness and rejoicing instead of the anguish, guilt and shame he felt inside. David knew God made him to feel conviction within his soul, and because David violated the laws of God, he was effected to his very “bones” or substance. God knows all people need to be set free from the bondage and crushing of sin, and He sent His Son Jesus to be crucified and resurrected from the dead so people would have an opportunity to replace their guilt and shame with a joyful and glad spirit. God loves us, and when we humble ourselves before Him and confess and turn from our sins, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and replace our sadness with joy and gladness.

Next time David tells God, “hide your face from my sins”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".