Psalm 30- Joy comes in the Morning

 A Psalm. A song for the dedication of the temple. Of David.

1I will exalt You, O LORD,

for You have lifted me up

and have not allowed my foes

to rejoice over me.

2O LORD my God, I cried to You for help,

and You healed me.

3O LORD, You pulled me up from Sheol;

You spared me from descending into the Pit.

4Sing to the LORD, O you His saints,

and praise His holy name.

5For His anger is fleeting,

but His favor lasts a lifetime.

Weeping may stay the night,

but joy comes in the morning.

6In prosperity I said,

“I will never be shaken.”

7O LORD, You favored me;

You made my mountain stand strong.

When You hid Your face,

I was dismayed.

8To You, O LORD, I called,

and I begged my Lord for mercy:

9“What gain is there in my bloodshed,

in my descent to the Pit?

Will the dust praise You?

Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

10Hear me, O LORD, and have mercy;

O LORD, be my helper.”

11You turned my mourning into dancing;

You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.

THOUGHTS: This Psalm is a call for perspective.  Hard times will come.  Weeping may remain for the night.  There is mourning in life.  But joy and dancing comes in the morning.  God is able to turn things around.  For Christians, this is always our perspective.  We know who will win in the end, and we know He loves us with an everlasting love.  No one can thwart God's plans.  Even after the cross there comes the resurrection.  If this Psalm was used for the dedication of the Temple- a time of great celebration and joy- then it is a reminder that we can pray to the Lord in our darkest valleys and He will hear us.  In good times, we can remember God saved us from the bad ones.  He is the lifter of our heads and our hearts.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you that with you there is victory over bad times.  In every cross there is the halo of the resurrection.