Psalm 30

Psalm 30 begins with David calling to mind how the Lord has delivered him from his sins. David recalls that God has saved him from his enemies (vs. 1), healed him of his sickness (vs. 2), saved him from death (from his sickness)(vs. 3), and then he recognizes that God's anger passes quickly and turns to joy (vs. 5).

Then we find out what David's sin was in verse 6, "As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved." David is guilty of the ridiculous thought that he is self-sufficient and than he has no need of God in his life. As the king of Israel, it was probably easy for David to look around at the land, the city, his palace, his army, the people they had conquered, etc. and think, "I've got it made and no one can touch me." Of course these thougths are all conjecture but there must have been something similar going through his mind. These thoughts are pretty natural for humans. When things are going our way we feel invincible. I think many times it happens without a conscious effort. We don't intentionally speak to God saying, "You know what, why don't you go ahead and take the day off - I got this one under control." While this may not be our inner stream of thought, it does become our outward, and if we are not careful our inward attitude.

David was one of the most prosperous people on the planet. He had land, money, power, servants - you name it. But David forgot how he had attained his position. Everything that David had was a gift from the Lord. He (God) took him from being the last of eight sons and a lowly shepherd boy to being the king over all of Israel, God's chosen people! Whether David was guilty of an audacious claim of self-dependence (probably not) or simply not seeking to involve God in his decisions or other daily events (more likely), he was still guilty before the God who had given him all of the gifts he possessed.

When there is unconfessed sin in our lives, as there was in David's, God will get our attention. Sometimes He gives us thoughts that we cannot have on our own and other times He may choose to punish us in whatever way He wills until the light finally comes on. And when it does come on we realize how gracious and merciful God truly is. David says, "Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime." That God's anger lasts only for a short time and for the good of the beliver is grounds for praising and worshipping Him. He does not keep a guilt list to throw in our faces once we have honestly repented, but welcomes us back into His presence with open arms always ready to love. His patience and love are infinite, but do not use that as an excuse to sin. David realized how close to death he was because of the sin in his life and he turned from it. Hopefully we will not have to go through the same experience as David but will learn from and be watchfull over our lives in the presence of a holy God.

Find a reason to have joy this week! If you're having trouble, read Isaiah 57:15. Ray