Instruction
Scripture: Psalm 30
This psalm was written by David for the dedication of the
Temple. David never saw that event, so it was probably used when the land for
the temple was dedicated. It is a song of praise that recognizes God’s
blessings and provision in the good times and bad times of life. The message of
this psalm urges us to praise God for the many ways he has defended us and
turned our fortunes from the path to death to everlasting life.
Teaching
This psalm recognizes the strange response that people have
to prosperity and adversity. When prosperity comes they feel secure and solid
like a mountain, but when God removes the prosperity they are dismayed and
forget that God was the one who provided it in the first place. David
recognizes God’s providence in both the prosperity and adversity and points out
that God’s faithfulness in our adversity is the more memorable to us.
As we stand in good times we do well to remember that the
Lord has drawn us up out of the pit. In times of adversity we do well to
remember that he is merciful to help us. We should recognize that in our sin it
is only adversity that we deserve, but God in his grace has given his Son so we
may have healing, life, and joy as we declare God’s praise and give him thanks.
Life
No matter what we are experiencing in our lives right now we
do well to remember that God is there in the midst of it. If we are prospering,
it is from the Lord’s blessing and we should remember him and give him thanks.
If we are struggling, this too is a blessing from the Lord to teach us to cling
to him, to reveal his faithfulness to us, and to display his salvation to and
through us.
Our lives are lived wholly in God’s hands. This is a good
place to be, and the proof of that is the nail marks in Jesus’ hands. If God
would give his Son to save us, to pull us up from death and the pit, we can
have full confidence that he will turn our mourning into dancing and clothe us
with gladness.
Prayer
The theme of this
prayer is Thanksgiving.
O Lord, thank you for drawing us up from the shame of our
sin. Thank you for giving us healing in our body, mind, and in my soul. Thank
you for restoring our life, for to sin is to die and you have made us alive in
Christ. Thank you for privileging us to sing your praises and to give you
thanks, even that is a gift from you! Thank you that while weeping may last for
a night, joy comes with the morning. Thank you for all you do to turn back the
consequences of our sin and to establish us in a secure place and to prosper us
spiritually. Thank you for giving your Son to die for us, to go down to the pit
in our place. Thank you for raising him to everlasting life and for giving me
faith in him so I may give thanks to you forever. Amen.
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