Psalm 30 — Protection from the Pit — Reading the Psalms

A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House; a Psalm of David.

1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast raised me up,
And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God,
I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed 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 unto the LORD, O ye saints of his,
And give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment;
In his favour is life:
Weeping may tarry for the night,
But joy cometh in the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
I shall never be moved.
7 Thou, LORD, of thy favour hadst made my mountain to stand strong:
Thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled.
8 I cried to thee, O LORD;
And unto the LORD I made supplication:
9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit?
Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me:
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 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

This psalm of praise, written for the dedication of God’s temple, speaks about our connection with God. It does not praise human construction or worship. It does not call for preservation of devoted things or places. Rather, it pleads for peace and preservation from the pit.

I like the “his anger is but for a moment” idea. It speaks clearly of the fear we feel in guilt and shame. It helps us weigh on the scales of eternity what we will endure. Either we accept the momentary discipline of the Lord, looking forward to early morning joy, or in the end fall into the pit from which we have no hope.

What a curious idea to be on David’s mind in the dedication of the house of God. the temple was to be the place of God’s seat, not that man may boast, but so that we may approach our Savior. God our Savior has ever been our help and David prayed for this to continue. He seems disinterested in the his own accomplishments or achievements. He has nothing like that on which to rely. Only God can deliver and save. With God’s face turned our way we are confident and blessed. And so we are free and fully ready to praise God.

Thank God we are alive, today. Praise God that we are alive, today. Praise God for his great goodness, today.