Psalm 30-31
Key Verse: 31:13,14

    Thank God that through the Psalms we can see the image of Jesus through David’s spiritual struggles. In today’s passage we learn how to grow spiritually and depend on God’s mercy. We learn that we must trust in the Creator God every moment.

  
1. Hear, O LORD, and be Merciful To Me (Ps 30)
    The sub-title on Psalm 30 explains that this Psalm of David was later used for the dedication of the temple. Verse 30:1 says, "I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me." He gives God glory for lifting him from a low place and giving him victory over his enemies. He gave God the credit for saving him and exalted him. Who does the media exalt? They give much attention to corrupt celebrities with immoral lifestyles. They exalt people with perishing glory, like athletes. Gangsters are more celebrated than godly people. David exalted the Creator God who is the savior from the depths.

    Verse 30:2-3 say, "O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit." He called to God for help. He says God healed him. In verse 30:3 he speaks of the resurrection: "you brought me up from the grave." He speaks of the new life through faith in God. Romans 6:4 says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." So David is speaking of the new life we have through God's promises. In our old life before accepting Jesus we were slaves to sin. Because of God's promises, we too can say that he spared me from going down to the pit. When we live naturally, we are on the broad road to destruction. The sinful nature gradually controls a person, but Jesus can save us from going down to the pit.

    Verse 30:4 says, "Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name." Since we are saved by God's grace, he says "sing to the LORD." God's people can reveal God's glory when they praise his holy name.

    In verse 30:5 he changes the subject to God's anger, then to weeping and rejoicing. What does he say? God's anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping turns into rejoicing. In the next few verses he describes a process of sanctification. David was not born a perfect man. When God showed his anger, he wept tears of repentance. After that his joy was restored. What he describes is a process of Christian discipline. Hebrews 12:6 explains, "the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Sometimes God corrects us, which can be painful. When we repent, then God can restore our joy. Even after we become a Christian, our struggle with sin is not over. In 30:6-7 shows how even believers can drift into spiritual pride, requiring God's discipline, or that he hid his face. It shows that God wants us to grow in his holiness. Through correction, we can be sanctified and grow in God's image. God molds our character through suffering and restoration. His purpose is a good purpose to bring life.

    Verses 30:8-9 say, "To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 'What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help.' " He realized that there was nothing alluring about sin, and that his only option was to rely on God's mercy. God's mercy changed his mourning into joy. Praise God that our God is forgiving and wants to have a relationship with fallen descendants of Adam. Praise God for his mercy and that the death of Jesus covers our sins.

2. But I Trust In You, O LORD (Ps 31)
    In this Psalm of David we see how David took refuge in God during trying times. His words spoken through inspiration of the Holy Spirit paint of picture of the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. Verse 31:1 says, "In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness." David lived as a man on the run from King Saul and his minions. Instead of accepting the priest Samuel's proclamation and blessing that David was to become king, Saul no longer listened to the priest Samuel. David was a national hero, who defeated Goliath, but he became a marked man. He turned to God that he never be put to shame.

    In unsettling times he made God his rock. Verses 31:2-3 say, "Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me." People go to a refuge in time of war to hide until the danger passes. David declared that God was his rock and fortress. People of the world try to suppress any expression of faith in God, making God's people out to be dangerous freaks. David didn't depend on an organized program. God was leading him and protecting him everyday. In verse 31:5 he wrote, "Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth." The words "Into your hands I commit my spirit" were the last words of Jesus on the cross. It meant that he was not depending on God. It was not an accident that these words happened to be spoken by Jesus. Jesus fulfilled this image of the rejected servant.

    This Psalm says idols are "worthless." Idols are just a carved piece of wood or statue made of plaster. It cannot hear us or do anything. David said that he trusts in the LORD. Verse 31:7 says, "I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul." Though we experience many hardships and sufferings, we can be glad and rejoice in God's love.

    When he served God, he had to endure various kinds of distress. His "eyes grow weak with sorrow" (31:9). He endured anguish, years of groaning; his bones grew weak. (31:10) Verses 31:10-11 say, "Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends—those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery." Why was he the contempt of his neighbors? Why did people who saw him on the street run? It is because he was not one with the world. The world is in rebellion against God. If we live a godly life in Christ Jesus, we will be persecuted. (2Tim 3:12)

    Read verse 31:13, "For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life." Some people think that when we become a believer that all the important people will praise and like us. Even Jesus' disciples hoped that the religious leaders of their time would embrace and celebrate them as national leaders. Instead Jesus and his disciples were rejected by the religious establishment. Some people think that if they follow Jesus that they will instantly become some kind of rich celebrities. The Bible says that David wrote, "I am the utter contempt of my neighbors." (31:11) Once we start talking about faith in Jesus openly we should not be surprised when the world rejects us. Why is this? It is because the world loves darkness. In many educational circles Christian faith is routinely ridiculed. The death of Jesus can be seen in verse 12a, "I am forgotten by them as though I were dead." In verse 13 he says, "For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side." We are reminded of the Sanhedrin which slandered Jesus. We are reminded that we are engaging in spiritual warfare everyday.

    When he heard of schemes and plots against the people of God, how did he react? He says in verse 31:14, "But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' " When Jesus died and was buried, he trusted in God. His life was in God's hands. We can easily become entangled in a human struggle with people. Verse 31:20 says, "In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues." Intrigues are secret plots. There is no shortage of schemes and intrigues going on against the people of God. David said, "Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city." May God help us to praise him and hold on to our faith in difficult situations and trust in God.