Psalm 30

Have you ever noticed that when you are in the midst of something bad it seems like time goes more slowly and the hard time lasts forever?  Some even now look back and talk about how March seemed to be the longest month ever as we began our  journey of quarantine because of COVID-19.  However, when you truly consider things, this past March was the same length as last March–31 days.  The difference is our perspective.  As our eyes were on the difficulty we were facing, time seemed to stand still.  In Psalm 30, David is trying to give some perspective.  He says, ¹ 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. David seeks to turn our eyes to the source of strength and deliverance.  By the way, if you notice in the introduction of this Psalm it says “A Psalm at the dedication of the temple.”  This is a reminder to you that one aspect of worship is to refocus your mind on God when you have turned your eyes to other things for help.   As your eyes focus on God you are given perspective in regards to your bad times.  If you are suffering punishment from God for sin, you are reminded that God is still your source of help, 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.  If your suffering is part of the general suffering in life God is still your source of strength for ¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.  As you look to God you are reminded that your suffering is really temporary and God will turn your suffering into joy.  What a great comfort when suffering seems to be lingering.  But let’s not forget it is not just in your suffering that you turn to God, it is also when things are going well. 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.  Maybe the real reminder here is that you should always make worship of God a priority because worship turns your eyes to your source of strength in both good and bad times.  Remember you need this because we have the tendency to get our eyes off God and onto other things.  Let worship be a priority in your life.  Are you worshipping God today? ¹² O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!