30:1 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not
let my foes rejoice over me.
30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
30:3 O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life
from among those gone down to the Pit.
30:4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give
thanks to his holy name.
30:5 For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
30:7 By your favor, O LORD, you had established me as a strong
mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
30:8 To you, O LORD, I cried, and to the LORD I made supplication:
30:9 "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?
30:10 Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper!"
30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off
my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
30:12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my
God, I will give thanks to you forever.
The psalmist sings of an experience of the abundant mercy and grace
of God. As in other readings for today, the recognition of God's
presence brings transformation and response.
The subtitle said, "a Song of dedication of the house, by David".
Here we see that David attribute all of his success to God. This
Psalm was written in his prosperity (v.6, 7) and he asked for God's
continued blessing (v. 10).
What interesting is that in this Psalm of thanksgiving, written in
the height of David's prospertity, the author didn't mention about
any other material blessings, beside the main story of the Lord had
saved his life. Why didn't we have the same attitude in
thanksgiving? We often thanks for jobs, for materials blessing, but
not thank him for saving our lives?
Coho, Midway City.
"Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning." I
see this as a phrase that may speak comfort in a troubled world. I
feel some obligation to speak on a patriotic theme since this is
Independence Day in the U.S. This appeals to me as a way to
acknowledge the fact that our country has seen (and caused) dark
days, but we still find hope in God, whatever our political stripe
or bent. -Dale in Chattanooga
"For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Just like a human parent, God is here portrayed to be angry with us
even though love will always be unconditional. Is it theologically
correct to think of God as having anger, though? Just wondering . .
.
When I think about the anger of God, I keep in mind what Paul said
in Hebrews: "In your anger do not sin." Of course, I am not sure if
God's anger is like that of human anger. Maybe it is. Maybe it
isn't. In the Hebrew scriptures when God is angry, God comes across
like God is pretty ticked! Some prophets proclaim that God causes
one nation to rise up against another nation due to their
sinfulness. God seems to be able to do things in God's anger that we
are told not to do. Such as kill other people. But then again, I
guess we could say that God is God and God can do whatever God wants
to do. But then again, what does that say about integrity. If I say
to my children "Do what I say and not what I do", what kind of
person will that create. But maybe God can do this without turning
out so bad. I always thought God could not do what was against God's
nature. For example, "Can God create a rock which God cannot pick
up." But then again maybe God can do whatever God wants. I mean, who
is going to judge God? But then again, Jesus did not do whatever He
wanted to. Maybe the scriptures have evolved into a clearer picture
of who this God really is. Your anger question has me thinking.
Thanks. R. in Rossville.
James Ward put this psalm to music back in the 1970's. I don't think
it's in circulation anymore. It was a great song! Anyone out there
with an old LP and record player may do well to play this one during
worship this Sunday.
This Psalm 30 gives one a sense of being at a time when something
has passed. The Psalmist has been delivered. I think of experiences
described in the Old Testaments. Noah seeing that the waters had
receding; Hannah realizing that she was with child; Jacob realizing
that Esau would not harm him, Joseph seeing his brother benjamin
after many years. They knew the morning joy! But suppose you are in
the midst of the other aspect. The 26 day during the flood, the
journey on the way to confront Esau, Joseph in Egypt not knowing
whether Benjamin was dead or alive. As the psalmist describes God in
terms that might seem almost negative or even God's face being
hidden. In those times it might be hard to concentrate on the joy.
We must not forget that those periods are just as important as the
joy. I think Andre Crouch says it best "If I never had a problem, I
wouldn't know that God could solve them" This is not an attempt to
glorify pain, it was more an plea, to not short change our learning
period. Rather than asking what has caused my headache?,we would
rather ask what pill can I take to get rid of it?
Shalom
Pasthersyl
30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
30:7 By your favor, O LORD, you had established me as a strong
mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
I love this psalm because it speaks about us today. How many of us
have not said "I accomplished this, I earned this, it is my power or
ability or skill that makes me so special." But we all hit those
times when we realize we're not the ones in control--an accident, a
death, a change in the direction of our future that we did not
choose. So we pray and begin to understand who we can count on when
we realize it's not us.
I think just about anyone would have a story to illustrate this
psalm--think back to a time when things looked hopeless, then
consider what God has done to change this for you! KB - WA
Question? Is Psalm 30 as effective as Psalm 88? I'm not trying to
compete Scripture against each other, I'm speaking in the
experiential aspect. Where does the blessing come, in the valley or
the Mountaintop experience? Is it different for different people? If
ones journey has been challenging or somewhat easy. For pastors
knowing our congregations and assessing what time of Journeys
members have experience could make a difference
Shalom
Pasthersyl
Psalm 30 Litany
30:1 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not
let my foes rejoice over me. 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for
help, and you have healed me. L: Weeping may linger for the night,
P: but joy comes with the morning!
30:3 O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life
from among those gone down to the Pit. 30:4 Sing praises to the
LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. L:
Weeping may linger for the night, P: but joy comes with the morning!
30:5 For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.
L: Weeping may linger for the night, P: but joy comes with the
morning!
30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
30:7 By your favor, O LORD, you had established me as a strong
mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed. L: Weeping may linger
for the night, P: but joy comes with the morning!
30:10 Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper!"
30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off
my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, L: Weeping may linger for the
night, P: but joy comes with the morning!
30:12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my
God, I will give thanks to you forever. L:Weeping may linger for the
night, P: but joy comes with the morning!
There's a great hymn called "Joy Comes with the Dawn" written by
Gordon Light. It's an Easter hymn, I think I will use it this week.
KB in AB
