Psalm 30_A song for dedication of the Temple_All Time Notes1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.2 Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor...
Psalm 30_A song for dedication of the Temple_All Time Notes
1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
8 To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Jin H. Han
Professor of Biblical Studies
New York Theological Seminary
New York, N.Y.
- One need not read hatred into the term “foe,” for the word covers all situations of opposition.
- The poet does not dwell on details of the dangerous situation that transpired. Only in sight is the thanksgiving for God’s intervention that saved the poet.
- The life-threatening situation is no more. Neither is the fear of death
- The poet invites others to join in thanksgiving. In the Hebrew text, the command of praise is clearly marked in the second-person plural verb.
- The poet compares God’s favor with God’s anger. The latter is momentary, whereas the former lasts for life.
- The poet testifies to joy that returns with the rise of the sun. The poetic image may also speak of the passage of time that turns and mends steadily (compare with “the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” in Proverbs 4:18).
- The poet acknowledges that there had been a time of prosperity that provided confidence and fortitude (verse 6).
- In retrospect, the poet realizes that it was none other than God that sponsored the time of wellness. In those days, thanks to God, the psalmist was as sturdy as “a strong mountain”; by contrast, without God there was nothing but fear and confusion (verse 7).
- In spite of present trouble, however, the poet realizes there is no reason to remain in despair.
- With a hint of humor, the poet reminds God that the dust has no capacity to praise God. Nor can the inanimate object tell the truth of God’s faithfulness.
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