Psalm 30
Psalm 30 I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.” O Lord, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
This Psalm of David comes at the conclusion of a grouping of Psalms from 23-29. It is a fitting conclusion as well. This Psalm highlights the stark contrasts in life of joy and sorrow…something David knew all his life and most certainly all throughout his reign as King. It is also a strong theme of the people of God as well who come to learn that even though there may be sorrow in the night that joy does indeed come in the morning.
This Psalm’s inscription is for the dedication of the “temple” (literally “house” in Hebrew). There is some question in the eyes of different scholars whether this is referring to David’s palace he had built or for the temple (that he did not build but certainly made many plans to have it helped be built).
David’s palace was built in 2 Samuel 5:11 and this was a point at which David realized that the Lord had established his kingdom which was certainly reason to reflect and celebrate.
It could also be a reference to the tent that David erected for the ark in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:17), which would connect well with the “Dancing” described (Psalm 30:11; 2 Samuel 6:16) if this is taken literally.
Of course, in view of David’s preparations for the temple project (1 Chronicles 22), it is entirely possible that this Psalm was written for the dedication of Solomon’s temple, maybe even written by David in anticipation of that occasion, or later applied to that occasion, and noted by the title.
The Talmud (the Jewish rabinnical law) shares that this Psalm was used when the temple was rededicated after Antiochus Epiphanes had desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar to Zeus in 167 BC. So, this Psalm and its connection to God’s “house” had been embraced by God’s people over time.
The themes of sorrow and joy, which undergird all of life, can only be faced with the certainty that David lays out in the Psalm…with an unwavering faith in God. For those who trust in God, it is no surprise that joy comes in the morning.
PRAY
Father thank you for your Presence. Thank you for being with me in the highs and lows of life. Thank you that I can come into your Presence no matter what and lean on your when life is hard.