“I will never be moved” (verse 6). It’s easy to think that way in times of “prosperity,” when everything seems to be going the way we want. Of course, it’s just as easy to become “dismayed” (verse 7) in difficult times, to imagine that God has forgotten us, or that He just doesn’t care about what happens to us.
Today’s psalm provides a helpful dose of perspective to both overconfidence and despair. For David makes it clear that God is the One Who is responsible for all his victories: God lifted him up even in the face of his enemies (verse 1), and God is the One Who made him stand strong like a mountain (verse 7). And the same God is the same source of strength for all His people today – that’s why He alone deserves all our thanks and praise (verse 12). As verse 11 summarizes, God is the One Who turns all our mourning into dancing – so none of us have any room for self-confidence, do we?
But remember – God is still God even while we are mourning, and David knew this all too well. When he was in the thick of battle and when he was on the run from his enemies, he was often afraid of going “down to the pit” in death (verse 9). But even in those darkest of hours, David kept on calling out to the Lord (verse 8). And David testifies that God heard his cries and healed him and kept him from going to Sheol, the place of the dead (verses 2 and 3).
Just so, no matter what difficulties we may face today, our own faith can be strengthened as we remember how God has answered our prayers in the past. For as verse 5 reminds us, God may be angry at our sin, and He may even discipline us in order to bring us to repentance, but His anger doesn’t last long. And why? Because all those who have trusted in Christ have not only been forgiven of our sins –the very righteousness of Christ has been credited to our account. That’s why God’s favor lasts for a lifetime. And that’s why our joy always returns, no matter how bitterly we may weep.
Yes, because Christ is with us, we have no reason either for overconfidence or for despair. So, let us dry our tears and sing His praise, no matter what season of life we may be going through.
Psalm 30 (NASB)
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. A Psalm of David.
I Will extol Thee, O LORD, for Thou hast lifted me up, And hast not let my enemies rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to Thee for help, and Thou didst heal me.
3 O LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And give thanks to His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
6 Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, “I will never be moved.”
7 O LORD, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong; Thou didst hide Thy face, I was dismayed.
8 To Thee, O LORD, I called, And to the Lord I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise Thee? Will it declare Thy faithfulness?
10 “Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be Thou my helper.”
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;
12 That my soul may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever.
