Psalm 30
I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” 7 By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. 8 To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
David has been presented as the author of this psalm. Perhaps, as he was collecting materials for the future building of God’s house, he also constructed this hymn. Later, as the temple was being dedicated, this song was performed.
In this psalm, David first praised Yahweh for rescuing him from his external enemies. They desired to dominate and humiliate God’s messiah and people. The “antichrists” wanted to have their way with God’s kingdom as they established their own. However, the Lord was faithful and refused them such success. God granted David and Israel victory over their foes. (vs. 1)
David also remembered calling to the Lord in the day of his physical sickness. He cried for help and the Great Physician did his healing work. Time after time, it looked like his candle was expiring, and God came to his aid. (vs. 2)
Finally, in the largest section of David’s song, he gave thanks for God’s salvation from his internal depravity. Great was God’s mercy for David’s soul. He was dead in his sin and trespasses. He recounted a particular incident. When things were going smoothly, arrogantly he declared, “I shall never be moved.” God was angry with the haughty sin of his beloved king. That was when God worked repentance in David’s heart. God hid his face allowing David to be torn up. David recognized he deserved excommunication and a reservation in Sheol – the grave. He was dismayed and cried to the Lord; he plead for mercy. With great passion he declared his desire for reconciliation, restoration, and the opportunity to worship and evangelize. Passionately, God’s messianic king cried out for mercy and help. (Look at what the offended God accomplished. Isn’t the gracious discipline of the Lord fantastic?) And God reconciled, restored, or resurrected him. Though David deserved to perish in the pit, God gave him undeserved life. (vs. 3) Ultimately, God’s momentary anger was followed by his lifetime of favor, and David’s night of weeping was followed by a new day of joy. His mourning was turned into dancing. (vs. 5-11)
Therefore, In view of God’s blessings, David was going to sing, praise, and give thanks. Great was God’s faithfulness, and David was not going to be silent. However, personal adoration was not sufficient. The psalmist called God’s saints to join him in singing praise and giving thanks to the Lord. (vs. 4) He was going to give thanks forever, he was going to do it with his friends, and it was going to be done at the temple of the Lord. Congregational worship was in order for God’s disciplining grace.
Saints, can we apply this to our external enemies? David had his foes, Jesus had his, and so too do we. Outside us, the devil and his world wish to dominate and humiliate. In this incessant conflict, we have taken many blows. However, God’s church is still believing, reading, praying, singing, and gathering. God’s enemies are not winning. His church will never fail, and our spiritual D-day is right around the corner. God’s kingdom is forever; his truth is marching on. The King of the church says so.
Saints, can we apply this to our physical sicknesses? The effects of God’s curse are a sin-sick globe, a sin-sick soul, sin-sick neighbors, and a sin-sick body. However, even though our corpses have been sentenced to death, how many times has God fixed what ails us. Through natural and supernatural means, God has answered our prayers and healed us. The Great Physician has done great work. Give him the praise and thanksgiving he deserves.
Saints, can we apply this to our internal depravity? How often do we meditate upon our greatness? How often do we reason we have put a certain sin behind us as we proclaim, “I shall never be moved.” Every day, despite God’s goodness and prosperity, we do that which God hates. However, as God’s beloved saints, never let us confuse his hatred for our sin with his hatred for us. Oh, sure, he disciplines us in grace for our gross sin and trespasses. However, it is always for our good, and it always leads us to repentance. Yes, great is the reclaiming, reconciling, restoring, and resurrecting grace of God for his sinful saints. He never leaves us be. He never allows us to walk away for good. He is the Good Shepherd, and he will not take a loss – not even one. And now, through it all, through the ups and downs, faithfulness and faithlessness, obedience and rebellion, wins and losses, here we are, and we are still standing. How can this be? Such is only the gracious work of our covenant-keeping God. He loses not one of his sheep. He preserves his saints to the end. Such is his commitment to me and you. Today, as we proclaim our unusual faith in him, let our loudest song be, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
Finally, can we apply this to our Sunday practice and our modern worship services? Thanksgiving is the reasonable and right response to God’s mercy and grace. That being said, his blessings deserve to be proclaimed and shared with pomp and ceremony, with brothers and sisters. What he has done for us and his people is too great a matter to be a private affair. God’s goodness deserves a party. Will you be there – singing loudly?
Unfathomable Grace 