Day 57

Psalm 30: Read here https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2030&version=NASB

Though the title of the Psalm indicates it was written for the dedication of David’s palace, it says nothing about the house itself; rather the focus is on God and the greatness of His deliverance. At the dedication of his house, David wanted God to be praised, not himself. (v1)

2Samuel 5:11-12 & 1Chronicles 14:1-2 describe the completion of his palace. David knew that his security and status were the work of God and this explains the core reason for His Praise.

V3 indicates that David, amoung other deliverances in his life, had been restored from a life-threatening sickness that would have put him in the grave (sheol) and the ‘pit’. This is also referred to in v9 where, like other OT passages he indicates that he cannot praise him from the grave. “The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord, for they have gone into the silence of the grave (sheol).”Ps115:17NLT c.f. Job 19:25-26. The KJV often in the OT (though not here,)  translated ‘sheol’ as ‘hell.’

As we think of this Psalm as being sung at a dedication ceremony for David’s palace, it was instructive for David to say to all, “You see the strength of my kingdom and the splendour of this palace. All seems good and secure on a day like today. Yet no one should forget that there were many times my life was in great danger and I was close to death, and I praise the God who delivered me.”

In v4 David compels others to praise God for His goodness. Notice the contrast in v5. Anger vs favour, weeping in the night vs joyful mornings; a testimony of his own life of prayer  c.f. Lam3:22-23.  Into each life a little rain must fall, but the sun eventually shines. Notice also the contrasts in v11. David delivered from the calamity of ‘the pit’ Christ risen from the tomb, you and I delivered from sheol to shine in glory everlasting!

King David closed this song for the dedication of his house with a determination to thank God forever. Palaces seem to be permanent things, but they eventually crumble. Yet God will be praised forever.