Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast “broken may rejoice
1 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast “broken may rejoice/ — Ver. 8.
TAAVED does not simply long for forgiveness. He *J desires still more. He will also have joy, gladness, and exultation. This is to him a portion of the grace which he entreats. If this grace is to be full and free, then he expects that it will, in truth, fill his heart with gladness.
There are many souls anxious about salvation that do not understand this. They think that it is too great and too large a blessing to desire from God, that He should cause such unworthy ones deep joy. They would be content to go bowed and depressed all their days, if they could but cherish the humble hope of one day coming into heaven. To ask for joy and gladness upon earth as well, is a thing of which they consider they are not worthy, and it is not fitting for them to expect it. And they think that this is humility. Alas! no: they only desire always to measure grace in some sort according to their own merits, and then it is not real grace any more.
David exemplifies how we are to know better the God with whom we have to do, and how to cherish higher thoughts of the riches of grace. He knows that when God forgives, He forgives completely; but when He receives any one again, He receives him with His whole heart. The Lord does not desire that there should be any cloud resting betwixt Him and the believing soul; He desires that the soul should know that it is restored completely to His favor, as completely as if it had never committed sin, and that it may now rejoice with confidence in the forgiving love of God. This David knew; and therefore although he had fallen amazingly low, when he asked for grace, he is not afraid to ask for entire restoration to the love of God, and for the blessed experience of it. ‘Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.’
Oh that every penitent and anxious soul that uses this Psalm may learn to understand that he is entitled tep ask for nothing less, that it is proper for him to be ctntent with nothing less, than joy and gladness. God desires this on the part of His people: i Rejoice in the Lord; and again I say unto you, Rejoice.’ The Lord Jesus desires it also: ‘These things have I spoken unto you that My joy may abide in you, and that your joy may be full.’ The nature of the case, the glory of the reward, the love and beneficence of God all entitle us to expect that forgiveness shall impart joy.
And if we would understand what this joy and gladness consists in, an explanation is readily given:
just in receiving what he had prayed for, the cleansing of his sins. Yes: it was from the forgiveness of his sins that he expected such gladness. It was always the sense of his sin that had grieved and pained him so terribly; and so long as he had no certitude concerning this blessing, he could have no peace. But when he only knew that God was reconciled to him, that his transgressions were blotted out of God’s book, that he was washed whiter than snow, and thus restored to the favor of God, it was no wonder that he expected that his heart should be filled with joy and gladness. It was thus that he came to pray: 6 By the word of forgiveness spoken to my soul, cause me to hear joy and gladness.’
How different is such an attitude from that of those who pray for a short time, and then once again seek their joy in the world, because they know nothing of the joy of God; or of those who pray for forgiveness, and yet do not believe that this blessing can fill them with joy; who seek for the fountain of joy only in themselves, in some wonderful change of heart or holiness in their life. O souls, pray learn from David that at the very moment that you come believing to the blood of Jesus to receive forgiveness, you may be filled with the joy of God: ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.’ To the sinner, Jesus says: 6 Be of good cheer; go in peace: your sins are forgiven you.’
But whence comes it, then, that so many never arrive at this gladness To me it seems that this verse of our Psalm points out a true reason. When David says: That the bones which Thou hast “broken may rejoice,5 he reminds us how terrible his conviction of sin was. God had bruised him; that is, he felt that God was his enemy, that the wrath of God was upon him, and that he could not withstand God, nor even stand before Him. The curse of God’s law struck him down, and he lay bruised in the dust. The dread reality of sin, the astonishing nature and certainty of God’s wrath, bruised him to such an extent that there was no healing of him; and now nothing can possibly comfort him, unless he is to receive complete forgiveness and complete restoration. If he were not certain of this, if there was to be the least doubt upon this point, he could rest no more. Was Gods forgiveness a reality for him. He desired to be assured of this by hearing God’s voice of joy and gladness.
And it seems to me that just here is found lurking the cause why so many never come to the joy of God, and never, indeed, once earnestly long for it. They have never yet truly felt their sins. They cannot yet speak to God of ’ the bones which Thou hast broken.’ They know that they are sinners; but the conviction is a thing simply of the understanding. The fear of the Lord is never upon them. They have never yet been roused by the sense of God’s wrath. They do not feel that it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The Spirit has not convinced them of sin. They have never yet learned to cry out:
k Woe is me, I am undone,’ and therefore they feel so little need of joy, and of the certainty of God?s forgiving love.
O Lord, that Thou wouldst pour forth Thy Holy Spirit, that many might know their sins and feel real anxiety of soul. Would that the law might bruise them, that the curse might terrify them, that the cross might break them down, so that they should find no rest until they find forgiveness and the joy of God in the blood of the cross.