Psalm 30
A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David.
1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.[a]
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
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.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cried,
and to the Lord I made supplication:
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?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
12 so that my soul[b] may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Reflection:
This psalm is so rich in its portrayal of God who rescues us, comforts us, hears our confessions, and our cries for help. In this psalm God answers our prayers with mercy and compassion. What is contained in verse 5 is something to which many of us cling:
“For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a life time.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.”
Today, confess the sin which may invoke God’s anger. Then offer thanks to God’s holy name for those blessings which you treasure. Offer praise to God simply for who God is. Pray for yourself, if you feel you are in the night, longing for the morning. Pray for others who are there as well. Hold fast and know that God is with you, and know that morning will come. God will be with your there too. Today, may you know peace and share peace.