Skip to main content

Psalm 30 - For His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime

Psalm 30

 For His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime

 Introduction
Psalm 30 is a worship Psalm written by David. It speaks of God's mercy, God's saving grace, and how David was forgiven by God. There is no breakdown of verses..

We often get the image that God in the OT is a wrathful God, and a forgiving God in the NT. This Psalm disproves that - showing God's forgiveness in David's life

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
We get the picture of God often being "above" - and David uses this imagery as well, hinting that God has drawn him up from somewhere... To be explained later!

O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down the pit
This is where David is from. The beauty of this line is shown in 2 things
1. All men go down the "pit", to Sheol (Heb for hell). All men are the same, we go down and condemn ourselves to death and judgement.
2. God restores His chosen to life from among those in the pit - not only reaching down to earth, but reaching all the way to hell to pull us out.

For His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime
This is the other beautiful part of this Psalm - that in God's anger, we are cast into Sheol - yet in His favor, once we are rescued there is no going back. Justification is a one-time process. If you are saved, you are saved for all eternity. Disclaimer: Make sure you really are saved! Saying you love Jesus doesn't make you saved.

Conclusion
God is a merciful God, both in the Old and New Testament. As a matter of fact, God is unchanging, just that the way we view Him and His acts does. Also, He chooses to express His actions in different ways at different times to teach people different things.
We are to recognise the unity of man in sinning against God, and understand how great an act of love that God should "pull us up" from hell.
Are we recipients of God's eternal favor?
God's favor is not all "good" - in His favor we are also judged for various reasons. Don't take God's favor as good things all the time!

There's more to Psalm 30 than this, but this was the thing that really caught my eye in my sleepiness.. Maybe I'll come back for a part B tomorrow...
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Luke 22:35-53 - Jesus arrested

Luke 22:35-53 [35] And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” [36] He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. [37] For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” [38] And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” (ESV) [39] And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. [40] And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” [41] And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, [42] saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” [43] And there appeared t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mark 9:2-13 - The transfiguration

This passage tells of Peter, James and John following Jesus to a high mountain alone. Again, it is only the "inner circle" of the disciples who get to witness this event. As Jesus prayed, His appearance was changed to one radiant and intensely white - an allusion to His holiness. Moses and Elijah also appeared and talked to Jesus about His coming death. Why Moses and Elijah? (note: speculation here) Moses is the giver of Old Testamental law and is instrumental in Christ's fulfillment of the OT Law, and His replacing of it. Elijah is the symbol of faith of the OT - never going against God but suffering many things for His sake, and at the end being taken up to heaven without actually dying. They talk to Jesus, and Peter suggests that they make 3 dwellings for them to stay. However, that is clearly not God's intention, and God speaks clearly to them, telling them Jesus is His beloved Son, and to listen to Him. At this point, Moses and Elijah disappear. Jes...
Post a Comment
Read more

Psalm 39 - The measure of my days

Psalm 39 -  The measure of my days Introduction Psalm 39 is written as a lament Psalm by David. David starts off the Psalm with a declaration of his commitment to stay silent in the face of the wicked. Possibly a reason for this is because he does not want to have any interaction with them, or perhaps they are twisting his words too much. However, in his silence, he says his plight gets worse. The next part is the kind of "emo" sounding part, where he asks God to let him know how long his days are and how he will die - in the hope that he will leave this world behind for a better place. He finally ends off with praise to God for His holiness and deliverance. How applicable is this today? Where God's holiness has not changed, how we relate to the wicked definitely has. Because of the coming of Jesus Christ, we wicked people have a chance to accept God's love and grace. As Jesus said, it is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. No longer do we distin...
Post a Comment
Read more