Psalm 30
Trust in Jehovah vs. Prosperity, and Resulting Deliverance
Trust in Jehovah vs. Prosperity, and Resulting Deliverance
Psalm 30. This is a Psalm of David, and the heading indicates it was a song to be sung when David’s house was dedicated. Prophetically it looks on the restoration of Israel when the Lord returns. The theme of the Psalm is the deliverance of the faithful after learning an important lesson: to trust is Jehovah Himself rather than prosperity. The basis of the Psalm is resurrection; the power of Christ’s resurrection applied to Israel.1
PSALM 30
A Psalm of David: dedication-song of the house.
1 I will extol thee, Jehovah; for thou hast delivered me, and hast not made mine enemies to rejoice over me.
2 Jehovah my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3 Jehovah, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol, thou hast quickened me from among those that go down to the pit.
vv.1-3 Praise to Jehovah for deliverance. The faithful thank and praise the Lord for delivering them from their enemies. They view the nation as having been sick, going down to Sheol, but quickened and healed by God! It is the power of Christ’s resurrection applied to Israel, who will experience a national resurrection!
4 Sing psalms unto Jehovah, ye saints of his, and give thanks in remembrance of his holiness.
5 For a moment is passed in his anger, a life in his favour; at even weeping cometh for the night, and at morn there is rejoicing.
vv.4-5 The Judgment is Passed. The tribulation is now viewed in the passed as a brief moment of anger compared to the lifetime of Jehovah’s favor. The weeping had endured for one nighttime (the great tribulation), but joy had come in the morning (the Millennium).
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved.
7 Jehovah, by thy favour thou hadst made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled.
8 I called to thee, Jehovah, and unto the Lord did I make supplication:
9 What profit is there in my blood, in my going down to the pit? shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10 Hear, O Jehovah, and be gracious unto me; Jehovah, be my helper.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 That my glory may sing psalms of thee, and not be silent. Jehovah my God, I will praise thee for ever.
vv.6-12 Trust in Jehovah vs. Prosperity. The faithful now review an important lesson: to trust in Jehovah Himself, rather than what Jehovah has given, no matter how great the provision. The confession of misplaced trust is in vv.6-7. Prosperity had made them confident. Even the natural blessing of the Lord had given them protection (a mountain). But then the Lord withdrew Himself, hiding His face. This was to make the saints learn to trust in Him, a Person. This discipline had its desired effect; “I called to thee, Jehovah, and unto the Lord did I make supplication” (v.8). The substance of the prayer is given in vv.9-10; i..e a prayer for Jehovah Himself to be gracious and intervene. The answer to the prayer is given in vv.11-12; mourning turned to dancing, sackcloth changed to gladness, and a stream of praise to Jehovah for ever! “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11).
- The direct application of the Psalm is to the Jews standing as themselves raised out of the death of the former generation in the strength of Christ’s resurrection. The virtue of Christ’s resurrection being power, ascertained power over death, is applied to save from it (see verse 3) Christ — the congregation — and the great congregation… It is the song of Christ on resurrection, applied to the deliverance and saving of the Jews from death in the latter day. – Darby, J.N. Heads of Psalms.