Scripture
I will exalt you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:1-5)
Observation
– David contrasts God’s deliverance with the many ways he has needed it – the depths, his enemies, from being in the pit. Also the contrast between God’s help and his need to be healed (interesting contrast there)!
– The other huge contrast is between God’s wrath and judgment (which are very real) and the depth and breadth of his mercy
Applicationt was you
Verses 4 and 5 of this Psalm point out a human reality – we tend to think that the anger and the weeping are the long and un-endurable when, in fact, it is God’s goodness that is the majority of what we experience. The goodness of God overwhelms the badness that life seems to bring. The tears that seem to drown us are, in reality, gone as quickly as night passes into day.
Oh to have this perspective every day! To not dwell in the tears or the weeping (as we – I – often do). But to put things in their true perspective.
To weep too much is to deny the rejoicing God brings. To dwell on the passing anger of the Holy One is to ignore and make light of his very real favor.
Application
God Who Helps and Heals and Rescues – remind me, oh remind me, how great is your mercy against the pain of the world. Remind me anew that your love is deeper than the pit, that your healing is but a call away, that your uplifting is higher than anything or anyone that shoves me down. All these riches are in and through your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Application
Prayer
