Psalm 30 (Listen)
30:1 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O LORD,
you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8 To you, O LORD, I cry,
and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!
O LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Devotional:
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning (Psalm 30:5 CSB).
David knew the weeping that occurred in the night, but also the joy that came with the morning. Most of us have had some nights of weeping, perhaps because of our own sin or because we live in a fallen world where suffering happens. This Psalm encourages us to hold onto the hope that joy will come in the morning. And one day, in the presence of our Savior in heaven, that joy will never end. “You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to you and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever” (verses 11-12).
Pray it: Father, help me to remember that difficult moments of life are only for a season and the joy that awaits on the other side because of your faithfulness and power. May the power of the resurrection of Jesus show me that my weeping can be transformed in joy and keep me steady. Amen.
Share it: Share a verse or thought from this passage with someone today.