Psalm 51 Separation

We are playing a little "leap frog" here. We started in verse 10, then went back to verse 1. So now we are back to verse 11.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

After David's repentance and request for forgiveness (v. 1-10) we come to what is a uniquely Old Testament prayer. David was painfully aware of Saul's problems. Saul had, at one time, been God's choice for the king. The Lord had even sent the Holy Spirit on Saul to prophesy. The Holy Spirit left him. But worse, God's choice was also rescinded. (1 Samuel 15 and 16)

David had a holy horror of being "cast away" from God's presence. In addition, he was aware of his dependence on the Holy Spirit. David saw the direct results in Saul's " madness" caused by a demon, either possessing Saul or at least oppressing Him. This was not a condition that David wished to emulate. A life separate from the Lord and estranged from the Holy Spirit was terrifying to him–and almost everyone.

He was also aware of Samson's life as a judge and that the Holy Spirit had left him as well. This story is in Judges 16. (Verse 20) The Holy Spirit will not leave a New Testament Christian because Jesus promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

But most telling is the story in 1 Samuel 16:13. Samuel has just anointed David as the next King.
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. (Emphasis added.)

David had experienced the indwelling presence of the Lord personally. We would be accurate when we surmise that the Holy Spirit did not remain on David through all of his shenanigans. And now, at this juncture of his life, he was acutely aware of what he had lost. He wanted it back and he wanted it permanently. That is a great attitude and prayer.

At Pentecost the Spirit began a new and different ministry. Previously, He had been sent on an "as needed" or ad hoc basis. Every example of His appearance in the Old Testament confirms this. He came upon an individual, performed the required task and left. There were probably some "long term" presences, like Samson and possibly David, but none of them were permanent.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit will never leave us either. He is described as the "earnest" of our inheritance or a non-refundable deposit or pledge. (Ephesians 1:14) The Holy Spirit will be in us until we go home to be with the Lord, or Jesus takes Him, and us, out of this world at the Rapture. We will be taken "out of the way," according to 2 Thessalonians 2:7, in order for the man of sin, the anti-Christ to be revealed.

David's prayer, in this instance, is not a model for us, but a reminder of the unparalleled blessing that we enjoy. We are walking demonstrations of "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27) Show hope today.