Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
It is a contrite plea not to be rejected, banished or separated from God's presence and favor, and not to be deprived of His Holy Spirit. It was prayed by David, the exalted king of Israel, after he had sinned greatly and the Lord sent him sharp rebuke through His prophet. Convicted of sin he feared the loss of God's favor, presence and peace more than the loss of his crown, feeling he could endure anything but being forsaken by God. It seeks more than pardon, longing to remain in communion with God with a clean heart, a renewed right spirit and restored harmony with Him. It gives the course and model of true repentance for all who have departed from the Lord, assuring those who return in penitence and faith that God hears, forgives and renews.
Setting in David's Life
The prayer was offered by David, the exalted and honored king of Israel, after he had sinned greatly and the Lord sent him a message of reproof and sharp rebuke through His prophet. It belongs to his repentance when that divine reproof came, pleading for mercy to remain accepted in God's presence and to keep God's Holy Spirit, joined to requests to be washed from iniquity, to receive a clean heart and a renewed right spirit, and to have the joy of salvation restored for teaching transgressors and singing of righteousness. When David confessed his sin he humbled his heart and declared God to be just in all His dealings.
He bowed under the chastisement of the Lord without cherishing stubborn resistance to God's expressed will, and his spirit did not rise up in rebellion against reproof. He had no hatred for the prophet who spoke the stern rebuke, he trusted in God more than in man, he did not take counsel of men who were sinning against God, and he never lost confidence in the God who had put the rebuke in the prophet's mouth. His contrition was as profound as his guilt, humbled under a sense of his sin with a contrite and humble spirit, strong not in always resisting temptation but in contrition of soul and sincere penitence. He relied upon the mercy of the God whom he had loved and served and honored, he loved much because much was forgiven, he accepted the decision of God as just and merciful, and he was beloved of God not because he was a perfect man but because of this humble penitence without rebellion.
In humble confession he acknowledged that his spirit was unlike Christ's and came to God in sorrow and contrition, clinging to the cross rather than presenting his own goodness. Convicted of sin he poured out his soul in penitence and humiliation before God, fearing the loss of God's favor, presence, and peace. He felt he could endure the loss of his crown but could not be deprived of the favor and presence of God, valuing that favor more than his crown. The loss of former peace and despair reflect that fear of being forsaken by God.
He made the prayer part of a sacred song recounting his sin, his repentance, and his hope of pardon through the mercy of God. He appointed it to be sung in the public assemblies of his people in the presence of priests and judges, princes and men of war, and to preserve the knowledge of his fall to the latest generation. Instead of concealing his guilt, he openly confessed it so that others might be instructed by the sad history of his fall. His example shows that true conversion requires a clear recognition of transgression and cannot be produced by emotional excitement alone, for he recognized his sin, repented, and found pardon through Christ.
Meaning of the Plea
The plea is the contrite cry of a penitent sinner not to be cast away, rejected, banished, or separated from God's presence and favor, and not to be deprived of, lose, or have withdrawn God's Holy Spirit. It was prayed by David, the exalted and honored king of Israel, after the Lord sent him a message of reproof by His prophet for his sin, when he confessed his sin and humbled his heart and declared God to be just in all His dealings. It gives the model of true repentance for sin and the course to follow when departed from the Lord. It belongs to an earnest prayer to be washed from iniquity, to receive a clean heart and a renewed right spirit, to have restored joy in salvation, and to receive strength to serve God acceptably and to teach transgressors and sing of righteousness. It shows that acceptable service depends on God's presence and Spirit.
It expresses longing to remain in communion and fellowship with God and to keep His Spirit, seeking more than pardon: a pure heart and restored harmony with God. The contrite sinner seeks not only cleansing and a renewed heart but also continued fellowship with God and the presence of His Holy Spirit. That continuing presence and Spirit are essential to restored spiritual life, cleansing, a clean heart, and a renewed spirit.
It is a prayer to keep Christ's presence to go where we go and dwell where we dwell, clinging to Him by living faith like Jacob refusing to let go. God's presence is security, treasure, glory, and joy, and without it the duties of life cannot be discharged and its trials cannot be endured. Praying it brings the promise that He will never leave nor forsake, while living without Christ in this world means He will live without us in the better world, so no one can afford to neglect the great salvation.
The Spirit's presence is to be earnestly treasured and valued above everything else, more precious than having requests granted or being spared what God chooses to deny, and more than an earthly crown. The prayer asks God to remove whatever defiles and to deny whatever else He wills, but not to withdraw His Holy Spirit, and it applies alike to individuals and to the church. David, when convicted of sin, poured out his soul in penitence and humility, fearing the loss of God's favor and feeling he could endure the loss of his crown but could not be deprived of the favor and presence of God. One who has fallen into sin should therefore without delay seek God for mercy and pardon, because the Lord hears, knows how strong the inclinations of the natural heart are, helps in every time of temptation, still extends mercy to the sinner, calls wanderers to return to be healed, and gives blessing to those who heed the pleading voice of His Spirit.
Cleansing and Renewal
David's plea not to be cast away and not to lose the Holy Spirit belongs to an earnest prayer for mercy, for washing from iniquity, for cleansing of a polluted life, for a clean heart and a renewed right spirit. It is the cry of a contrite, penitent sinner seeking not only forgiveness but inward renewal and continued fellowship with God. Forgiveness, a cleansed heart, and a renewed spirit are sought together with remaining accepted in God's presence and keeping His Spirit.
The same prayer asks for restored joy in salvation and for upholding and sustaining strength by God's Spirit. That restoration is given so the forgiven person can serve God acceptably, teach transgressors God's ways, lead others away from sin, and sing of righteousness, with sinners converted and turning to Him. Cleansing therefore leads to mission, as the restored one becomes an instructor of sinners.
Forgiveness, inward renewal, and a cleansed heart and renewed spirit depend on God's presence and the continuing gift of the Holy Spirit. Only the Lord's Spirit can make people clean, pure, and holy. He answers the polluted life brought to Him by putting His Spirit in the heart, uniting the human will with His will, and cleansing what was given over to sin, and by that indwelling He glorifies Christ, restores the joy of salvation, and sustains the person for teaching sinners God's way.
It is one of the most earnest prayers in the Bible for true reformation beginning in the heart, out of which flow the issues of life. Believers need from it purity, a right spirit, and Christlike character, and its lessons are to be practiced. A merely nominal profession fails to produce these qualities or power with God and leaves influence worthless, like salt without savor.
Dependence on the Spirit
The plea is part of a prayer for a heart prepared to serve acceptably, showing that acceptable service depends on not being banished from divine presence and not losing the Holy Spirit. It belongs to earnest pleading for cleansing, a clean heart and a renewed spirit, expressing the sinner's longing for continuing presence and Spirit as essential to restored spiritual life. Joined to requests for a clean heart, a right spirit and restored joy of salvation, it makes dependence on presence and Spirit part of renewal, calling for repentance and a new heart and spirit so that life is changed and sinners can be taught the right ways.
Cleansing from sin and a renewed heart depend on that presence and Spirit being retained rather than withdrawn. The Spirit glorifies Christ, restores the joy of salvation and sustains the person, so that the restored one can teach sinners the way and lead them to turn. The same plea shows the Spirit to be essential to conversion, spiritual discernment and faithful teaching, since without the Spirit even abundant words cannot present the truth in Christ with wisdom.
The earnest request not to withdraw presence and Spirit applies both to individual believers and to the church. It asks God to remove whatever defiles, and to withhold or deny whatever else He wills, but not to take away the Holy Spirit, whose presence is to be treasured above everything else. That Spirit is a blessing to be sought in fresh and greater measure, received daily, depended upon as not withheld by God, and enriching the believer's experience through divine love.
Links to Other Scripture
Together with Ezekiel's prophecies, this prayer was pointed to for Nicodemus to explain the work of grace upon the human heart and the heavenly kingdom. It belongs to the plea for a clean heart and a renewed right spirit, for restored joy of salvation and upholding by God's free Spirit so that transgressors may be taught and sinners converted. It teaches that even a just and honorable person must experience a new birth through Jesus Christ as the only condition to be saved and to enter and discern the kingdom of God, and that rigid precision in obeying the law entitles no one to enter. David's repentance illustrates genuine repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, through whom pardon is found, showing that true conversion requires a clear recognition of transgression and cannot be produced by emotional excitement alone. Though he still suffered for his transgression, his repentance was accepted.
After departing from righteousness David was rebuked and punished, but when he became penitent and humble the Lord forgave him and took him into covenant relation with Himself. Praying this prayer brings the promise that He will never leave nor forsake. Living without Christ in this world means He will live without us in the better world, so no one can afford to neglect the great salvation.
Assurance for Repentance
The verse shows the course to follow when departed from the Lord and gives the model of true repentance for sin. It was prayed by David, the exalted and honored king of Israel, after the Lord sent him a message of reproof by His prophet, when he confessed his sin and humbled his heart and declared God to be just in all His dealings. In that repentance the sinner pleads with God for mercy not to be sent away from His presence and not to lose His Holy Spirit.
It belongs to a prayer for cleansing from sin, a clean heart, a renewed spirit, restored joy in salvation, and upholding strength from God. As such it offers comfort and assurance to those who seek God in repentance and faith. It is assurance and comfort to those who have sinned and need to return to Jesus, showing that a repentant sinner may ask God not to reject them from His presence or withdraw His Holy Spirit.
Through all ages it encourages the children of God who have been betrayed into sin and struggle under the burden of guilt and despair to take courage, repent, and try again to walk in the way of God's commandments. It illustrates the struggles and temptations of humanity and shows genuine repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, through whom pardon is found. Though David still suffered for his transgression, his repentance was accepted by God. When convicted of sin he poured out his soul in penitence and humiliation before God, feeling he could endure the loss of his crown but could not be deprived of the favor and presence of God.
One who has fallen into sin should without delay seek God for mercy and pardon. The Lord hears, knows how strong the inclinations of the natural heart are, helps in every time of temptation, still extends mercy to the sinner, calls wanderers to return to be healed, and gives blessing to those who heed the pleading voice of His Spirit. The same plea is echoed in collective prayer asking God not to withdraw His Holy Spirit from those making plans to spread the truth among oppressed Black people, asking for the Spirit's continued presence and help so the work can be carried forward. That prayer to keep the Holy Spirit with God's people is joined with a plea for the Lord to open blind eyes.
It is also an urgent prayer for a person blinded to an alarming degree, that something from God's Spirit break the spell upon him so that he will surrender his will to God's will and tremble at God's Word. Keeping the Holy Spirit is necessary for preparation to stand in the day of the Lord. That preparation is obtained low at the foot of the cross by taking the step that is seen, kindling the taper from the divine altar before it is everlastingly too late, removing stumbling blocks without delay, and coming under divine guidance where the Comforter leads into all truth.
It is a contrite plea not to be rejected, banished or separated from God's presence and favor, and not to be deprived of His Holy Spirit. It was prayed by David, the exalted king of Israel, after he had sinned greatly and the Lord sent him sharp rebuke through His prophet. Convicted of sin he feared the loss of God's favor, presence and peace more than the loss of his crown, feeling he could endure anything but being forsaken by God. It seeks more than pardon, longing to remain in communion with God with a clean heart, a renewed right spirit and restored harmony with Him. It gives the course and model of true repentance for all who have departed from the Lord, assuring those who return in penitence and faith that God hears, forgives and renews.
Setting in David's Life
The prayer was offered by David, the exalted and honored king of Israel, after he had sinned greatly and the Lord sent him a message of reproof and sharp rebuke through His prophet. It belongs to his repentance when that divine reproof came, pleading for mercy to remain accepted in God's presence and to keep God's Holy Spirit, joined to requests to be washed from iniquity, to receive a clean heart and a renewed right spirit, and to have the joy of salvation restored for teaching transgressors and singing of righteousness. When David confessed his sin he humbled his heart and declared God to be just in all His dealings.
He bowed under the chastisement of the Lord without cherishing stubborn resistance to God's expressed will, and his spirit did not rise up in rebellion against reproof. He had no hatred for the prophet who spoke the stern rebuke, he trusted in God more than in man, he did not take counsel of men who were sinning against God, and he never lost confidence in the God who had put the rebuke in the prophet's mouth. His contrition was as profound as his guilt, humbled under a sense of his sin with a contrite and humble spirit, strong not in always resisting temptation but in contrition of soul and sincere penitence. He relied upon the mercy of the God whom he had loved and served and honored, he loved much because much was forgiven, he accepted the decision of God as just and merciful, and he was beloved of God not because he was a perfect man but because of this humble penitence without rebellion.
In humble confession he acknowledged that his spirit was unlike Christ's and came to God in sorrow and contrition, clinging to the cross rather than presenting his own goodness. Convicted of sin he poured out his soul in penitence and humiliation before God, fearing the loss of God's favor, presence, and peace. He felt he could endure the loss of his crown but could not be deprived of the favor and presence of God, valuing that favor more than his crown. The loss of former peace and despair reflect that fear of being forsaken by God.
He made the prayer part of a sacred song recounting his sin, his repentance, and his hope of pardon through the mercy of God. He appointed it to be sung in the public assemblies of his people in the presence of priests and judges, princes and men of war, and to preserve the knowledge of his fall to the latest generation. Instead of concealing his guilt, he openly confessed it so that others might be instructed by the sad history of his fall. His example shows that true conversion requires a clear recognition of transgression and cannot be produced by emotional excitement alone, for he recognized his sin, repented, and found pardon through Christ.
Meaning of the Plea
The plea is the contrite cry of a penitent sinner not to be cast away, rejected, banished, or separated from God's presence and favor, and not to be deprived of, lose, or have withdrawn God's Holy Spirit. It was prayed by David, the exalted and honored king of Israel, after the Lord sent him a message of reproof by His prophet for his sin, when he confessed his sin and humbled his heart and declared God to be just in all His dealings. It gives the model of true repentance for sin and the course to follow when departed from the Lord. It belongs to an earnest prayer to be washed from iniquity, to receive a clean heart and a renewed right spirit, to have restored joy in salvation, and to receive strength to serve God acceptably and to teach transgressors and sing of righteousness. It shows that acceptable service depends on God's presence and Spirit.
It expresses longing to remain in communion and fellowship with God and to keep His Spirit, seeking more than pardon: a pure heart and restored harmony with God. The contrite sinner seeks not only cleansing and a renewed heart but also continued fellowship with God and the presence of His Holy Spirit. That continuing presence and Spirit are essential to restored spiritual life, cleansing, a clean heart, and a renewed spirit.
It is a prayer to keep Christ's presence to go where we go and dwell where we dwell, clinging to Him by living faith like Jacob refusing to let go. God's presence is security, treasure, glory, and joy, and without it the duties of life cannot be discharged and its trials cannot be endured. Praying it brings the promise that He will never leave nor forsake, while living without Christ in this world means He will live without us in the better world, so no one can afford to neglect the great salvation.
The Spirit's presence is to be earnestly treasured and valued above everything else, more precious than having requests granted or being spared what God chooses to deny, and more than an earthly crown. The prayer asks God to remove whatever defiles and to deny whatever else He wills, but not to withdraw His Holy Spirit, and it applies alike to individuals and to the church. David, when convicted of sin, poured out his soul in penitence and humility, fearing the loss of God's favor and feeling he could endure the loss of his crown but could not be deprived of the favor and presence of God. One who has fallen into sin should therefore without delay seek God for mercy and pardon, because the Lord hears, knows how strong the inclinations of the natural heart are, helps in every time of temptation, still extends mercy to the sinner, calls wanderers to return to be healed, and gives blessing to those who heed the pleading voice of His Spirit.
Cleansing and Renewal
David's plea not to be cast away and not to lose the Holy Spirit belongs to an earnest prayer for mercy, for washing from iniquity, for cleansing of a polluted life, for a clean heart and a renewed right spirit. It is the cry of a contrite, penitent sinner seeking not only forgiveness but inward renewal and continued fellowship with God. Forgiveness, a cleansed heart, and a renewed spirit are sought together with remaining accepted in God's presence and keeping His Spirit.
The same prayer asks for restored joy in salvation and for upholding and sustaining strength by God's Spirit. That restoration is given so the forgiven person can serve God acceptably, teach transgressors God's ways, lead others away from sin, and sing of righteousness, with sinners converted and turning to Him. Cleansing therefore leads to mission, as the restored one becomes an instructor of sinners.
Forgiveness, inward renewal, and a cleansed heart and renewed spirit depend on God's presence and the continuing gift of the Holy Spirit. Only the Lord's Spirit can make people clean, pure, and holy. He answers the polluted life brought to Him by putting His Spirit in the heart, uniting the human will with His will, and cleansing what was given over to sin, and by that indwelling He glorifies Christ, restores the joy of salvation, and sustains the person for teaching sinners God's way.
It is one of the most earnest prayers in the Bible for true reformation beginning in the heart, out of which flow the issues of life. Believers need from it purity, a right spirit, and Christlike character, and its lessons are to be practiced. A merely nominal profession fails to produce these qualities or power with God and leaves influence worthless, like salt without savor.
Dependence on the Spirit
The plea is part of a prayer for a heart prepared to serve acceptably, showing that acceptable service depends on not being banished from divine presence and not losing the Holy Spirit. It belongs to earnest pleading for cleansing, a clean heart and a renewed spirit, expressing the sinner's longing for continuing presence and Spirit as essential to restored spiritual life. Joined to requests for a clean heart, a right spirit and restored joy of salvation, it makes dependence on presence and Spirit part of renewal, calling for repentance and a new heart and spirit so that life is changed and sinners can be taught the right ways.
Cleansing from sin and a renewed heart depend on that presence and Spirit being retained rather than withdrawn. The Spirit glorifies Christ, restores the joy of salvation and sustains the person, so that the restored one can teach sinners the way and lead them to turn. The same plea shows the Spirit to be essential to conversion, spiritual discernment and faithful teaching, since without the Spirit even abundant words cannot present the truth in Christ with wisdom.
The earnest request not to withdraw presence and Spirit applies both to individual believers and to the church. It asks God to remove whatever defiles, and to withhold or deny whatever else He wills, but not to take away the Holy Spirit, whose presence is to be treasured above everything else. That Spirit is a blessing to be sought in fresh and greater measure, received daily, depended upon as not withheld by God, and enriching the believer's experience through divine love.
Links to Other Scripture
Together with Ezekiel's prophecies, this prayer was pointed to for Nicodemus to explain the work of grace upon the human heart and the heavenly kingdom. It belongs to the plea for a clean heart and a renewed right spirit, for restored joy of salvation and upholding by God's free Spirit so that transgressors may be taught and sinners converted. It teaches that even a just and honorable person must experience a new birth through Jesus Christ as the only condition to be saved and to enter and discern the kingdom of God, and that rigid precision in obeying the law entitles no one to enter. David's repentance illustrates genuine repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, through whom pardon is found, showing that true conversion requires a clear recognition of transgression and cannot be produced by emotional excitement alone. Though he still suffered for his transgression, his repentance was accepted.
After departing from righteousness David was rebuked and punished, but when he became penitent and humble the Lord forgave him and took him into covenant relation with Himself. Praying this prayer brings the promise that He will never leave nor forsake. Living without Christ in this world means He will live without us in the better world, so no one can afford to neglect the great salvation.
Assurance for Repentance
The verse shows the course to follow when departed from the Lord and gives the model of true repentance for sin. It was prayed by David, the exalted and honored king of Israel, after the Lord sent him a message of reproof by His prophet, when he confessed his sin and humbled his heart and declared God to be just in all His dealings. In that repentance the sinner pleads with God for mercy not to be sent away from His presence and not to lose His Holy Spirit.
It belongs to a prayer for cleansing from sin, a clean heart, a renewed spirit, restored joy in salvation, and upholding strength from God. As such it offers comfort and assurance to those who seek God in repentance and faith. It is assurance and comfort to those who have sinned and need to return to Jesus, showing that a repentant sinner may ask God not to reject them from His presence or withdraw His Holy Spirit.
Through all ages it encourages the children of God who have been betrayed into sin and struggle under the burden of guilt and despair to take courage, repent, and try again to walk in the way of God's commandments. It illustrates the struggles and temptations of humanity and shows genuine repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, through whom pardon is found. Though David still suffered for his transgression, his repentance was accepted by God. When convicted of sin he poured out his soul in penitence and humiliation before God, feeling he could endure the loss of his crown but could not be deprived of the favor and presence of God.
One who has fallen into sin should without delay seek God for mercy and pardon. The Lord hears, knows how strong the inclinations of the natural heart are, helps in every time of temptation, still extends mercy to the sinner, calls wanderers to return to be healed, and gives blessing to those who heed the pleading voice of His Spirit. The same plea is echoed in collective prayer asking God not to withdraw His Holy Spirit from those making plans to spread the truth among oppressed Black people, asking for the Spirit's continued presence and help so the work can be carried forward. That prayer to keep the Holy Spirit with God's people is joined with a plea for the Lord to open blind eyes.
It is also an urgent prayer for a person blinded to an alarming degree, that something from God's Spirit break the spell upon him so that he will surrender his will to God's will and tremble at God's Word. Keeping the Holy Spirit is necessary for preparation to stand in the day of the Lord. That preparation is obtained low at the foot of the cross by taking the step that is seen, kindling the taper from the divine altar before it is everlastingly too late, removing stumbling blocks without delay, and coming under divine guidance where the Comforter leads into all truth.