When we looked at Psalm 51 recently, verse 12 says ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvationand grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.‘ The theme of restoration is taken up in the Kutless song ‘Restore Me’ which echoes the prayer in v10-12 and Psalm 139:23-24:
‘Search my heart, my every thought,
Shine the light of truth on every part,
Let me see myself through who You are,
Where else can I go?
Only You can make me whole.
Restore me, pull me out of darkness, for Your glory,
Let the waves of mercy wash over me.
Holy, holy, holy, I wanna see the fullness of Your majesty,
The beauty in the scars You’re wearing for me,
Jesus, please restore me…
Broken now, I’m at Your feet,
Cause without Your love I’m incomplete.
You’re my only hope to be set free,
Where else can I go?
Only You can make me whole.
By Your wounds we are healed, in Your death You revealed perfect love,
By Your grace we are saved, freedom’s price has been paid,
Through sacrifice You gave us life,
Now from the grave we can rise.’ (‘Restore Me’, Kutless)
God is a God who restores. Ezra and Nehemiah worked on restoring the temple after the exile. Job’s fortunes were restored by God after the difficulties he faced. Joel prophesied that all the locusts had eaten would be restored by God. Psalm 14:7 says ‘When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!’ Though we may fall, we shall arise (Micah 7:8), restored by the mercy and goodness of God.