Psalm 30--Joy Comes with the Morning

Psalm 30
English Standard Version

Joy Comes with the Morning
A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.
30 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
    and have 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 have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry 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 made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
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 merciful to me!
    O LORD, be my helper!”

​11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

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David's praise in this psalm starts with not only rejoicing for the victories that the LORD has provided over his enemies in this life, but also for the salvation that has been provided to David which he did not deserve.  David says that his life was destined for the pit of hell (Sheol is associated with "the grave" and the place of death, but in this context, David is saying that the souls of the righteous go to be with God and the souls of the wicked remain in Sheol).  This is one of the first times that we've seen David admit he was a wicked person that rightly deserved judgment, but that God has saved him and declared him righteous.

All of those how have experienced God's salvation and are "saints" should likewise praise the LORD and bless His great name.  The promise that God's anger is short-lived, but his favor is forever is a great promise for the assurance of our salvation.  God will not get so angry with you that He will decide that you are no longer saved.  His grace and mercy are new every morning for everything that each day has to bring, and He tells us that we can wake up each day with joy (maybe not happiness which is rooted mostly in circumstances, but joy which is rooted in our sure hope of our unshakable relationship with God and the sure salvation that He has provided).  This is something that I needed to hear today.  It is okay to sorrow and weep, but we should not stay that way forever--living lives without joy tells the world that the gospel is ineffective.  We have both hope and joy in the midst of all kinds of trials and circumstances.

David said "I will never be moved," when he trusted in his prosperity (his riches).  This is David speaking out of pride, but David said that all of his wealth brought him no joy and he was in despair when the LORD hid His face (His blessing) from David.  We should not trust in ourselves or our possessions.  "You can have all this world, but give me Jesus."  (see the full lyrics here).

David then cries for mercy and wonders much the same thing that Jesus says when He asked rhetorically, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV).  David seems to be thinking the same thing--all of his power and riches mean nothing if his soul would end up in the place where the wicked go to be judged (the place we today call Hell).  It is David's purpose in life to give praise to the LORD, and David says that his body cannot do that once it decomposes and turns to dust, so he cries out to the LORD so that the LORD will save him and he will praise the LORD not only in this life, but for all eternity.

God has a way of turning our weeping and weeping into joy and gladness.  That does mean that we are unfeeling or don't experience grief or pain, but we experience it differently.  We do not act as those who have no hope.  We trust in the LORD who is in control of all things, works all things together for His glory and the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  We may not understand God's perfect plan in the moment, but we can have faith that He is who He says He is and that means we are who He says we are and that no matter how bad things look, His presence and His blessings, and His favor are for those who are called by His name.  That is something to sing and be eternally glad about.  "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever!"....."With my mouth will I make known His faithfulness....to all generations."