Mourning to Dancing; Morning to Joy
Psalm 30 is a psalm of David that was sung at the dedication of the temple. Picture the people of Israel, singing this beautiful Psalm written by their beloved King David--who had longed to build the temple and long prepared for its building--but who was no longer with them.
The desire of David's heart was to build a beautiful temple for the Lord. He spent years making intricately detailed plans and accumulating gold, silver, and precious stones. But God withheld the fulfillment of that desire from him. Since David had been a man of war, God chose his son Solomon as the one who would build the temple.
We may have the most godly desire to serve God in a worthy and admirable way, but God--in his infinite wisdom--may withhold that desire from us. For his own perfect reasons (whether we see them or not), God may choose to appoint someone else to the task for which we long.
Even if God withholds our heart's desire for service, however, we can sing with David:
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
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 (4-5).
You have turned for me my
mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your
praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give
thanks to you forever! (11-12)
Imagine Solomon and the people singing David's words of praise, knowing how he would have enjoyed singing with them at the temple's dedication! But David was no longer in the land of the living. By the time the temple was dedicated, he had been translated to his eternal home.
David didn't grumble and complain to God about withholding the temple-building blessing. He submitted himself to God's will. He did all he could to provide materials and prepare Solomon for the task. And he praised God for his constant care and lifelong love. He was able to see how God always turned his mourning into dancing and filled each new morning with joy.
May God turn your mourning into dancing and fill each morning with joy.
The desire of David's heart was to build a beautiful temple for the Lord. He spent years making intricately detailed plans and accumulating gold, silver, and precious stones. But God withheld the fulfillment of that desire from him. Since David had been a man of war, God chose his son Solomon as the one who would build the temple.
We may have the most godly desire to serve God in a worthy and admirable way, but God--in his infinite wisdom--may withhold that desire from us. For his own perfect reasons (whether we see them or not), God may choose to appoint someone else to the task for which we long.
Even if God withholds our heart's desire for service, however, we can sing with David:
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
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 (4-5).
You have turned for me my
mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your
praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give
thanks to you forever! (11-12)
Imagine Solomon and the people singing David's words of praise, knowing how he would have enjoyed singing with them at the temple's dedication! But David was no longer in the land of the living. By the time the temple was dedicated, he had been translated to his eternal home.
David didn't grumble and complain to God about withholding the temple-building blessing. He submitted himself to God's will. He did all he could to provide materials and prepare Solomon for the task. And he praised God for his constant care and lifelong love. He was able to see how God always turned his mourning into dancing and filled each new morning with joy.
May God turn your mourning into dancing and fill each morning with joy.
Labels: meditation, psalm, Psalm 30
posted by Glenda | 5:33 AM
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