THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

XXX. Recalling Our Weakness To Avoid False Self-Security

(Psalm 30:1-12)

I. Introduction

A. There is a danger in the believer's life of faith to become self-sufficient in a false form of self-security where he forgets how very vulnerable to destruction he truly is, and how much he needs God's help in all of life.

B. Psalm 30:1-12 provides the lesson David learned about this danger, and it provides rich application for us:

II. Trusting The Lord For Deliverance From Unusually Intense Trials, Psalm 30:1-12.

A. Verse 1 of this psalm comprises the introductory notes in the English Bible (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 998), so there are 13 verses in the Hebrew text, but we stay with the numbering system in the English Bible for clarity.

B. We thus translate Psalm 30:1-12 as follows:

1. "I will exalt You, O Jahweh, for You have drawn me up [as out of a well] (dalah, B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 194; Piel = intensive) and did not let my enemies exult over (samah, Ibid., p. 970; Piel = intensive) me," Psalm 30:1.

2. "O Jahweh (Covenant-keeping Lord), my Elohim (Creator God), I cried out for help (shawa', Ibid., p. 1002; Piel = intensive) unto You and You healed (rapa', Ibid., p. 950-951) me," Psalm 31:2.

3. "O Jahweh, You brought my life principle (nepesh, Ibid., Kittel; Robert B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 56-59; physical, spiritual, mental, emotional life principle) up from Sheol, my physical life (hayim, Ibid., p. 313) from going down into the pit [grave]," Psalm 30:3.

4. "Sing to Jahweh, His pious ones (hasid, Ibid., p. 339), give thanks in praise (yadah, Ibid., p. 392; Hiphil = caus.) in remembrance of His separateness (qodesh, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 871-872)," Psalm 30:4.

5. "For (but) a moment (rega', Ibid., p. 921) is His anger; His favor (lasts) a lifetime (hayim, Ibid., p. 313 [other meaning, cf. v. 3]); weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning," Psa. 30:5.

6. "Now I (emph. pron.) [had] said in my ease, prosperity (shalwah, Ibid., p. 1017), 'I will never be shaken, moved, overthrown (mot, Ibid., p. 556-557; Niphal = passive)!" (Psalm 30:6)

7. "O Jahweh, with Your favor You caused my mountain to stand mighty ('oz, Ibid., p. 738-739), but when You hid Your face I became dismayed, terrified (bahal, Ibid., p. 96; Niphal = passive)," Psalm 30:7.

8. "To You, O Jahweh, I called, and to Adonai [my Master] I made myself implore [You] for favor (hanan, Ibid., p. 335-336; Hithpael = intensive reflexive)," Psalm 30:8.

9. "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?" (Psalm 30:9)

10. "Hearken, O Jahweh, and be merciful to me; O Jahweh, be my Help ('azar, Ibid., p. 740; ptc.)," Ps. 30:10.

11. "You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothes me with joy," Psalm 30:11.

12. "In order that (lema'an, Ibid., Kittel, p. 999; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 775) I might make music of Your glory and not become silent. O Jahweh, my Elohim, forever will I give hanks in praise of (yadah, again, cf. v. 4) You," Psalm 30:12.

C. The Biblical text and historical setting expose the lesson of this psalm as follows:

1. The introductory notes indicate this psalm was sung at the dedication of the temple site in David's era before Solomon built the temple after David's death, cf. 2 Samuel 24:1-25; H. C. Leupold, Expos. of the Psalms, 1974, p. 251-252. David in self-sufficiency (Psalm 30:6) had taken a census of Israel, relying on human might for future battles (Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, 1978, ftn. to 2 Sam. 24:1), so God had sent a plague to kill the people (2 Sam. 24:1-15). David confessed his sin (2 Sam. 24:17) and bought the threshing floor of Araunah where the Angel of the Lord stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it (2 Sam. 24:16-24), and there David offered a sacrifice to appease God's anger (2 Sam. 24:25). The site was dedicated as the place for God's temple where He could be sought for mercy, Ibid., Ryrie, ftn. to 2 Sam. 24:25.

2. Thus, Psalm 30:1-12 has a great lesson, that we rely on the Lord instead of becoming self-sufficient in the blessings God has showered upon us lest we rely on those blessings as false idols in place of the Lord.

Lesson: David was severely punished by God for turning self-sufficient, so God disciplined him unto repentance.

Application: May we not forget how much we need God's help for security lest we turn to false idols and see Him painfully discipline us so as to remind us of our need for His help and nor for the futile help of false idols.