Focal Passages: Psalm 30
We turn our attention this last lesson of the fall quarter to Thanksgiving, a favorite holiday for many believers. Psalm 30 highlights many reasons for God’s children to be grateful. Entitled “A Dedication Song for the House,” this Psalm of David focuses on the individual’s thanksgiving to God for deliverance and healing.
Rescued from destruction. We may not have armies encompassing us, threatening our safety as in David’s life. However, we can all relate to being surrounded by trouble, worry and impending defeat. And, when it comes to our need for salvation, our despondent and desperate depravity binds us in a hopeless state of sin and death. As Psalm 3 declares, the “foes increase” mocking, “There is no help for him in God … But Thou, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head!”
Out of hopeless situations we cry out to God, and He answers out of His holy mountain! There is healing in God’s response to our helpless cries. Thanks be to God!
Verse 5 in Psalm 30 rings forth with a glorious promise. You may be in the deep, dark night of difficult days. Yet, never forget, there is “joy in the morning!” There is always a bright dawn coming for the believer
Moore
Rescued from pride. We all have moments in life where all seems to be going well and we seldom turn to the Lord with a humble heart. Thankfully, the Lord disciplines His children away from such pride. Difficult days are reminders from the Lord that we need Him always, for without Him, “we can do nothing” (John 15:5). When the Lord is with us, we can stand confident “like a strong mountain” (Psalm 30:7).
When we think we can stand thus on our own, we turn our backs on the Lord’s countenance to discover the terror of lacking God’s powerful presence. Pride is the chief of all sins because it tempts us with the delusion that we do not need the Lord. Pride closes our hearts from seeking the one who delivers us. If you find yourself today getting in your own way to the power of humble faith, drop the pride and cry out to the Lord, “Be my helper.”
Rescued from sorrow. When we come to the Lord in humility and confession of our prideful sin, He takes off our filthy clothes of lament and adorns us in festive robes, just as the Father did to his wayward son (Luke 15:22).
The world and its lies have laid us all low in sin and degradation. We have all fallen short of the glory and gladness of God. We all have pasts that disappoint, presents filled with worldly demands and futures clouded with anxious worry.
Yet, if we turn to the Lord in renewed faith, He will turn our “lament into dancing” (Psalm 30:11). God rescues us so that we will “sing and not be silent!” (Psalm 30:12).
Always remember that Satan wants to silence you into the drudgery of this world. It is God who is the lifter of your head, so that you can praise Him forevermore! What a glorious reason to be thankful this week! B&R
