Psalm 30

This is a Psalm that records an experience in David’s life that is a “must” for everyone.  It records a time in David’s life when as a young man he fancied himself capable of handling whatever life would send his way.  He says, “In my prosperity I said, ‘I shall never be moved.’”  But in the end he had learned that strength for life comes only from the favor of the LORD (v6-7).

The title over this Psalm says it was “A Song at the dedication of the house of David.”  This is interesting but can be a bit confusing.  If David meant it was sung at the dedication of his own home when it was built it could make sense, although there is no reference to the home.  Nor is there a reference to the future “house of the LORD”. But, as Spurgeon says, it was “David’s joy to lay by in store” (from the introduction to this Psalm in The Treasury of David).  Since David’s primary provision for the future temple was the purchase of the threshing floor of Ornan to make sacrifice for David’s sin in numbering the people (1 Chron. 21).

To me this latter idea makes sense that it was sung in connection with all David’s preparations for the temple his son Solomon would eventually build.  But still, one would think David had learned this lesson much earlier in his life.  One would certainly hope that each of us would come to understand this today, lest we waste any more of our brief lives on this earth with the thought that we, in our own strength, are sufficient for what each day brings.

The progress of the Song is easy to see, built around the key thought of v5:

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

·         v1-3: David gives an overview in expressing his praise to the LORD.  He has been lifted up, healed, and kept from certain death.

·         v4-5: David calls all to give praise and thanks with him for God’s “favor”.  This is perhaps the key term in the Psalm.  This is not checed, the term for lovingkindness.  It rather implies delight or satisfaction.  The term is used several times in the law in reference to God’s acceptance of offerings done in a proper way (e.g. Lev. 22:19-21; 23:11).  If this is David’s prayer after the sin of the census and accompanying plague this would certainly fit.  God did not find delight in David’s sinful actions.  But He did delight to withdraw His judgment after David offered sacrifice on that threshing floor that would become the site of the temple.  God deals favorably with His people because He delights in them.  He does not delight in their sin but longs for them to be holy as He is holy.  Thus His delight in them is never apart from an acceptable sacrifice for sin. 

·         v6-7: Here is the correction David had experienced.  In his youth, or perhaps even to the time later in life in the census, David had thought he was sufficient for life.  But after a brief time of God hiding His face from David, David realized that life was only lived out of God’s favor.

·         v8-10: Thus David had cried out to the LORD.  He longed to have life that he might praise God.  But his life would be gone without help from the LORD.  So he cried, “have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!”

·         v11-12: The LORD answered David.  Notice that the LORD removed David’s sackcloth of mourning.  David had come in humility, confessing his sin.  God then clothed David with gladness.  For that, David was thankful.

Let us consider this.  This is the lesson of James when we boast about tomorrow (James 4:13-17).  “All such boasting is evil.”  We do not have a claim on the next moment, much less the next day.  We live only out of the favor of God.

And how much better to consider it in the days of youth.  As Jeremiah said in the Lamentations 3:26-27: “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.  It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.”  And the Preacher in Ecclesiastes: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come…” (Ecc. 12:1).  We tend to feel invincible in our youth, that nothing will ever shake us, that we have everything under control.  And who like David might have had those thoughts with all the success he experienced as a young man.  Yet there came a time when he was in sackcloth, humbled by life’s difficulties, until God answered his cry and brought morning joy!  How much better to humble ourselves today, for the glory of God.

If we have not learned this to this day, may it be counted true of us from this day forward!