Psalms 30:5 - Homiletics

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 stethoscopic , laying your ear against its heart, and discerning the life that throbs there. The psalmist sings "of mercy and judgment."

I. GOD 'S DISPLEASURE , AND ITS BRIEF DURATION . There is nothing of which we need to speak more carefully and reverently than of God's anger. With men, anger is rarely free from personal resentment, ill will, injustice, passion. None of these find place in God's anger. It is righteous displeasure against sin. At bottom, it is a manifestation of his love, which desires his children to be holy and happy. Its reality is shown, from the dawn of man's history, by the inseparable connection of suffering with sin ( Romans 6:23 ). God loves sinners, though they are unworthy, but does not treat them as sinless. And "whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth.' The chastening may be brief, "for a moment," but it is the expression of his unchangeable opposition to sin. The lightning flash is the expression of eternal forces, unchangeable laws. Are, then, the troubles of Christians always of the nature of punishments for particular sins? Beware of hastily thinking so, for yourself or others. Trouble has another mission, discipline—the training and culture of Christian character. The Sinless One himself learned in the school of sorrow ( Hebrews 5:8 , Hebrews 5:9 ; Hebrews 4:15 ). Thus we learn to "weep with those who weep." But trouble may be the direct fruit of our sin; or sent to waken conscience—bring sin to mind. If so, remember there is no truer exercise of God's love ( Psalms 119:67 ).

II. GOD 'S FAVOR , AND ITS LIFE - GIVING POWER . The Hebrew seems hardly to bear the sense given in the margin of the Revised Version. "Lifetime" is rather an English than a Hebrew idea. God's favour—his loving-kindness and faithful care—is as truly exercised towards his children in adversity as in prosperity; but not so seen and felt. The clouds which hide the sun are really drawn up by the sun's rays, that they may "break in blessing;" but for the time they do hide it. The sense of God's favour—the assurance of forgiveness, answer to prayer, removal of trial, opening of the path, comfort of promises, bounty of providence, shedding abroad of love in the heart by his Spirit, is like the life-giving sunshine; "clear shining after rain."

III. THE LAW OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE CONCERNING TROUBLE . Sorrow is joy's forerunner. The Hebrew is very terse and vigorous, though it may sound harsh if Englished verbatim , "For there is a moment in his anger; life in his favour. At eventide weeping shall come to lodge; and at morn a shout of joy." Trouble is not for trouble ' s sake , but "for our profit." The end being gained, the process will cease ( 1 Peter 1:7 ; 2 Corinthians 4:17 ). Joy is for its own sake; therefore inexhaustible ( Isaiah 35:10 ; Isaiah 54:8 ). How if the process fails; the end is not gained; grace and chastening both in vain? Then "his anger" against sin cannot be "for a moment," but must abide ( John 3:36 ; Hebrews 6:8 ; Hebrews 10:26 , Hebrews 10:27 ).