Psalm 30 (NRSV)
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Verse 1I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
Verse 2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
Verse 3O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
Verse 4Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
Verse 5For 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.
Verse 6As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
Verse 7By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
Verse 8To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication:
Verse 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?
Verse 10Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!"
Verse 11You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
Verse 12so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Devotion
How often do we pray and ask for God’s help in trivial times of need? Daily prayers are said for the traffic light to turn green or for our child to receive a good grade, for our cold to go away or to find a convenient parking space. This is actually good! Scripture teaches us to take all of our concerns to God in prayer.
Here the psalmist demonstrates that answered prayer is usually associated with freedom from despair or relief from sorrow. His joy comes from being saved from a pit, from his enemies not getting humiliated and finally, from being clothed by God with joy.
It is fantastic when the stoplights are in synch on the busy road or when your child earns that A. We love a speedy recovery from illness and a quick walk to the mall with that 20 dollar bill we found in the laundry. However, we can be sure that God’s power can work in our lives even in our worst moments of despair. Just as the psalmist experiences, God’s presence in our lives is most vivid when it leads us out of our deepest despair.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank for your ever-present help in time of need. You have the ability to intercede for us just when we can take no more and are about to give up. Help us to be mindful that, even when it feels like you are hiding, you are still present and ready to save. Amen.