Psalm 30

September 7, 2015

Sadness has turned to joy (Ps 30:11-30:12)

“You have turned my mourning into dancing!

You have taken off my sackcloth!

You clothed me with joy!

Thus my soul may praise you!

My soul will not be silent!

Yahweh!

My God!

I will give thanks to you forever!”

This psalm ends with the sadness of David turning into joy. His mourning has become dancing. He has put away his mourning sackcloth. He has put on joyful clothes. His soul can now praise God and not be silent. He was going to give thanks to Yahweh, his God, forever. It was a time for great rejoicing.

September 7, 2015

The plea to Yahweh (Ps 30:8-30:10)

“To you!

Yahweh!

I cried!

To Yahweh!

I made supplication!

‘What profit is there in my death?

What good is it if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it tell of your faithfulness?

Hear!

Yahweh!

Be gracious to me!

Yahweh!

Be my helper!’”

David pleaded with Yahweh. He cried out to him. He made supplications. He said what good would come from his death. If he was dead in the pit or the underworld, would his dust praise Yahweh. Who would tell of the faithfulness of Yahweh? He wanted Yahweh to hear his prayer, be gracious to him, and be his helper.

September 7, 2015

David was not moved (Ps 30:6-30:7)

“As for me,

I said in my prosperity,

‘I shall never be moved.’

By your favor,

Yahweh!

You have established me

As a strong mountain.

You hid your face.

I was dismayed.”

David in his prosperity was never moved. He had the favor of Yahweh who had established him in his richness. He was like an unmovable mountain. Nevertheless, Yahweh hid his face. This was upsetting to David. This almost sounds like Job.

September 6, 2015

Sing praises to Yahweh (Ps 30:4-30:5)

“Sing praises to Yahweh!

O you his faithful ones!

Give thanks to his holy name!

His anger is but for a moment.

His favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may linger for the night.

However, joy comes with the morning.”

The faithful ones have to sing praises to Yahweh. They have to give thanks to his holy name. Yahweh’s anger was only temporary but his favor lasted a lifetime. As this is the true understanding of love. There is always a momentary jarring or problem, but the love lasts a lifetime. While there was weeping at night, joy came with the morning. A good night’s sleep helps to solve a lot of problems.

September 6, 2015

Praise to Yahweh (Ps 30:1-30:3)

“A psalm of David, a song at the dedication of the Temple

I will extol you!

Yahweh!

You have drawn me up!

You did not let my foes rejoice over me!

Yahweh!

My God!

I cried to you for help!

You have healed me!

Yahweh!

You have brought up my soul from Sheol!

You restored me to life

From among those gone down to the pit!”

Psalm 30 is another psalm of David, but explicitly mentioned as from the dedication of the Temple. However, the Temple was not completed until the time of King Solomon his son. Thus it is a thanksgiving psalm for the great works of Yahweh. David or this psalmist wanted to extol Yahweh. There was a specific reason for this thanksgiving. David had been healed in some way because his foes or enemies could not rejoice. He had cried for help and Yahweh healed him. He must have been on his death bed because he was brought back from Sheol or the pit, the underworld of death. He was restored to life, almost like a resurrection. He was saved from death.