Psalm 30:4-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 30:5

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life; literally, for a moment ( is passed ) in his anger , a lifetime in his favour. God s anger is short-lived in the case of those who, having sinned, repent, and confess their sin, and pray for mercy (see Psalms 30:8-10 ). His favour, on the contrary, is enduring; it continues all their life. Weeping may endure for a night; rather, at eventide weeping comes to lodge , or to pass the night ; but joy cometh in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 30:5

Mercy and judgment. "His anger … a moment," etc. This pathetic and beautiful psalm is a thanksgiving after dangerous, well-nigh fatal, sickness. Its title calls it "a song at the dedication of the house; by David" (see Revised Version); q.d. David's own palace, not the temple. But there is no reference to this in the psalm. This is of small account. The most profitable study of Scripture is not telescopic , peering into the past; nor microscopic , dissecting it like a corpse; but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 30:5-12

The changes and consolations of life. I. THE CHANGES OF LIFE . Health may give place to sickness, prosperity to adversity, joy to sorrow. To-day we may be lifted up and rejoicing in God's favour, to-morrow we may be cast down and in trouble because God is hiding his face from us. There are two things to be guarded against. First , presumption ( Psalms 30:6 ); next, despair. Come what will, we must cling to God ( Psalms 30:9 , Psalms 30:10 ). II. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 30:6

And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved; rather, as in the Revised Version, and as for me , in my prosperity I said , etc. There is a marked pause, and introduction of a new subject in a new strophe. Prosperity had worked an ill effect on the psalmist, had made him self-confident and proud. He "said in his heart," as the wicked man in Psalms 10:6 , only in still stronger phrase, "I shall not be moved;" literally, I shall not be moved for ever. His heart was lifted up,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 30:6-12

Now begins the expanded account of the deliverance in respect of which the thanksgiving is offered. And first, with regard to the offence that had drawn down the Divine chastisement; it was an offence of the lips, springing from an evil temper in the heart. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 30:6-12

Vain confidence. "And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved," etc. Three stages here represented in the life of a good man. I. WORLDLY PROSPERITY A SECURITY . "In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved." 1 . We say this in youth. All our castles in the air, we think, are built upon mountains. We think we can become anything and achieve anything we please. 2 . We say this before we know our sinfulness. The ways of the world harden our hearts about our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 30:7

Lord, by thy favour thou hast (rather, hadst ) made my mountain to stand strong. It was thy favour which had given me the "prosperity" whereby I was exalted, and which I thought rooted in myself—which had made Zion strong, and enabled me to triumph over my enemies. But, lo! suddenly all was changed— Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled . God turned his face away, declared himself angry with his servant ( 1 Chronicles 21:7-12 ), and sent the dreadful plague which in a single... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 30:4

Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his - This call upon others to give thanks to God is in view of the mercy which he had experienced. He invites them to unite with him in celebrating the praises of that God who had showed him so much mercy. It was not because they had been benefited by these tokens of the divine favor; but:(a) because when we are partakers of the divine mercy, we desire that others may assist us in giving utterance to the praise due to God; and(b) because others may learn from... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 30:5

For his anger endureth but a moment - Margin: There is but “a moment in his anger.” So the Hebrew. That is, his anger endures but a short time, or brief period. The reference here is to the troubles and sorrows through which the psalmist had passed, as compared with his subsequent happiness. Though at the time they might have seemed to be long, yet, as compared with the many mercies of life, with the joy which had succeeded them, and with the hopes now cherished, they seemed to be but for a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 30:6

And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved - I shall never be visited with calamity or trial. This refers to a past period of his life, when everything seemed to be prosperous, and when he had drawn around him so many comforts, and had apparently made them so secure, that it seemed as if they could never be taken from him, or as if he had nothing to fear. To what precise period of his life the psalmist refers, it is now impossible to ascertain. It is sufficient to say, that men are... read more

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