PSALM 30 Written by David. May have been for a dedication of David’s palace. Later this psalm was used in celebration of Hanukkah and presentation of first fruits.
1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
8 To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9“ What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
SECTION:
I His beginning pledge of praise and thanks
II His look back on prayer and testimony (remembrance, public reminders, individual reflection)
III His look ahead to continuing prayer and testimony
THEME The Lord turns our mourning into dancing so it is with joy we praise him. Focus is on God and his greatness
QUESTIONS:
Why is David exalting God?
How long did David say God’s anger lasts?
What did David mean in verse 6?
Why did David say the Lord turned his wailing into dancing?
When did God ever turn your mourning into rejoicing?
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“For You have lifted me up” -This is the core reason for David’s praise. He knew that his security and status were the work of God. But David didn’t sit passively; he was a man of action. Yet, it was God’s work far more than David’s work. David knew that three things made his reign great. 1) He knew that the Lord had established him as king. 2) He knew that the kingdom belonged to God and was established for the sake of His people Israel. 3) He knew God wanted to use him as a channel to bless His people. It was not for David’s sake that he was lifted up, but for the sake of Israel.
“You have brought my soul up from the grave (pit)”- We don’t know if David here described a near-death experience or a narrow escape from death. Either way, in his life as a soldier and leader, he experienced times when death was near and God rescued his soul from death. David knew he wasn’t immortal and that one day he would pass from this life to the next.
In my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved”- (the following is my summary) David is admitting that he had become “overconfident” because of a season of prosperity and plenty. When things are going well for us and we are prospering in life this can be a dangerous time. That’s because when we are satisfied with ourselves and there are no problems, we seldom praise God. We tend to seek and praise God more after we have experienced a trial and God delivers us.
“Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong” -David confessed that the strength of his life and kingdom was not due to his prosperity, but to the favor of God. “To the end that my glory may sing praise to You” David knew the primary reason for God’s transforming work in his life wasn’t to give him palaces; it was so that David could praise God and not be silent. Though it clearly benefited David, it was primarily for God’s own glory that He did this. This principle means that God has a special reason to bring His transforming work to lives that will give Him praise.
My reflection
When I read this psalm my memory verse was “I will exalt you Lord for you lifted me out of the pit. …You turned my mourning into dancing….. Weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.” This psalm meant a lot to me because I could relate it to the time my daughter died from a congenital heart defect. She died on the operating table as they were performing open heart surgery. It was right before her 7th birthday. There is no deeper pit to fall into then when you lose a child, and I was deep into that pit. It was a dark place to be and there appeared no way out of the depth of my despair.
At the time, I believed in God but I truly didn’t know if he loved and cared for me. I felt frightened and alone. My marriage was in trouble and there was no support. I felt God had abandoned me. And when my daughter died I thought that he was punishing me. Yet, even though I believed these false things about God, he still came through for me. He comforted me in those times when there was no one there for me. He sent people around who said just the right things I needed to hear or else would would keep silent when I needed them to just hold me. But the One who brought me through was God alone. No one can say any words that can comfort a mother’s broken, grieving heart. But God didn’t have to speak. He let me know he was there for me. His presence was almost palpable. When I needed him most he would come through. When I cried out for him for help or strength he would answer. Those nights I wanted to end it all and just die he would bring me through and somehow I lived to face another day.
One question I would constantly ask people is “How long will this pain last?” I wondered if I had to carry this pain the rest of my life. Each holiday would tear open my heart and bring a fresh outpouring of grief. But somehow I got through that first year with God’s help. And slowly he brought healing. I still didn’t think I would ever find joy again. But that is where David’s words in this psalm ring true. God really did turn my mourning into dancing again and my weeping into rejoicing. He brought new life and lifted me out of the pit. I found a closer relationship with God and my trust in him grew. As God healed me, I had a new knowledge of the wonderful God I love so much. My self-loathing was replaced when I realized how much he values each of us. Life is precious and I would never think of ending my life again under any circumstance.
I also came to know suffering comes to all of us in different ways. It’s part of this fallen world, which is not our final home. I saw that even though I felt grief over losing my daughter, she was at home and feeling great joy because she was with Jesus and not in pain anymore. God showed me that I wasn’t the horrible mother I thought I was. I had taught my daughter about Jesus and that was one of the most important things I could have done. And I recalled that before her surgery she asked me, “Mommy am I going to see Jesus?” I thought it was a strange question to ask and didn’t think much of it at the time. But Jesus was preparing her for heaven and for coming home to him where she would never experience suffering anymore but complete and lasting joy.
When we lose someone we only focus on our loss and grief and never our loved ones complete joy as they see Jesus and have all their tears wiped away. They will never suffer again. But all we can focus on is our being left behind with grief and despair. I still tend to do that when anyone I know dies. Of course I miss them, and mourn them, and there is a feeling of great loss because I loved them. But at the same time, I can forget that the people I love and lost are experiencing great rejoicing in heaven in the presence of the God who loves them like they have never been loved on earth. David’s psalm reminds me of how God can turn my tears into laughter and my wailing into dancing, especially when I am joined with Jesus in heaven and see my loved ones again.