Psalms 30:6

DAVID'S CONFESSION OF SIN

"As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved.

Then, Jehovah, of thy favor hadst made my mountain to stand strong:

Thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled."

"I shall never be moved" (Psalms 30:6). "His heart was lifted up, and in a spirit of self-glorification, he gave command for the numbering of the people."[11]

"Of thy favor" (Psalms 30:7). This is an acknowledgment on David's part that in those days of prosperity and egotistical pride, he had not been fully conscious that it was God's favor which had elevated him, not his own ability or skill.

"Thou didst hide thy face" (Psalms 30:7). Ah, how quickly life can change! What seems like unending prospects of success and prosperity can change in a single moment to unqualified failure and disaster. "We presume upon health, but God sends sickness; we presume upon friends, but God raises up enemies; we presume upon our reputation, but suddenly Satan takes that away from us; we presume upon our worldly riches; but a fire, a revolution, an earthquake, a war, a hurricane, a misplaced trust, or something else leaves us with nothing!"[12]

We may not count upon tomorrow's following today's pattern. Maclaren tells us that before the terrible eruption of Vesuvius, the bottom of the crater had immense oak trees that had been growing for centuries. "It would have been difficult to think, looking at them, that they would ever be torn up and whirled aloft in fire by a new outburst."[13] Men daily need to thank God and to pray for his continued mercies.

This sudden hiding of God's face shook David out of his attitude of self-confidence and sufficiency and led to his casting himself upon the mercy of God.

"I was troubled" (Psalms 30:7). The word here rendered `troubled,' in Hebrews is `dismayed,' as in the RSV. "This is a very strong word implying shattering terror."[14]