Devotion: Deliverance from a great danger - Psalm 30

Psalm 30

May God's name be glorified. 

This is one of the thanksgivings Psalms of David. It commemorates a deliverance from a great danger.

The division into two unequal portions

V1-5 - > Briefly explaining the deliverance and an exhortation to praise God all his saints.

V7-12 –> Deliverance in more detailed manner and burst forth of Joy.

Psalm 30 : Song at the dedication of the temple

The most probable occasion for writing this Psalm is 1 Chron 21:1 - 22:6.

David misplaced his trust in his superior army than God. He took a census of his army. His army strength was 8 million in Israel, 5 million in Judah.

God got angry. God asked which one of the 3 destruction David prefer.

a.       Three years of famine?

b.      3 months of fleeing from your enemy

c.       3 days of pestilence in your land?

David opted for the option 3 as anyone would select. David had valid reasons that he selected. He said “Let us fall into the hands of God for his mercy is great; but not into the hands of Man”

Then God sent an angel to carry out destruction. Angel started his Job. From Dan to Beersheba he struck 70,000 people. Then he turned towards Jerusalem. God relented from the calamity and commanded the angel to stop. Then David saw the angel asked for his forgiveness at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

He was asked to raise an altar there. Later David planned to build the temple there itself.

False confidence of David – In his prosperity

Now let’s come to verse 6.

Here it says about a problem which we all have.

“When I felt secure, I said, I will never be shaken.. “.

Some translation – “As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall not be moved.”

We may not say it but its there within our mind.

V7 – By your favour, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

When things were going smoothly, when he had a great army, when he was winning the battles, after he had expanded his kingdom he forgot it was all the favour of God.

David slowly misplaced his trust in His army. He has reasons for it. There were totally 13 million people in his army. His soldiers are not like the soldiers that we may see in our Indian Army. He had a group which people called David’s mighty men

-          Josheb basshebeth – Single handily killed 800 people at one time.

-          Abhishai – Wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them.

-          Eleazer, Shammah etc.

Yes David forgot it was God’s favour.

Let me tell you dear brethren  if things around you are going good, when things are standing firm, when things are secure don’t forget one thing – it’s the favor of God.

We normally take things for granted.

V8 – You hid your face, I was dismayed (struck with fear).

Anger Vs Mercy of God

V6 – Anger for a moment, but favor is for a lifetime.

V7 – Weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes with the morning.

Our God is not a God who forgets his mercy, compassion, kindness and forgiveness when He is angry. His anger is only for a moment compared to his mercy.

When God asked David to choose a punishment, David selected the punishment from God. Reason we can see in 1 Chron 21:13 – “ Let me fall into the hand of Lord for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man”

Isaiah 54:7, 8 – In overflowing anger, for a short moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love… “

Dear brethren, when he disciplines us like a Father discipline his children. He will not forget his mercy, compassion and kindness. He is our loving father. In NT, we can see this disciplining as an expression of love not anger.

Yes weeping may tarry for the night, but definitely joy comes with the morning.