Psalms 30:1-5 - Homilies By C. Short

The mercy of God.

This psalm composed after recovery from some chastisement for sin, which had very nearly proved fatal. He praises God for lifting him up out of it, and calls upon others of a similar experience to join him in his thanksgiving.

I. HE CELEBRATES WITH JOY THE MERCY OF GOD TO HIM .

1 . His recovery had put an end to the malicious exultation of his foes. ( Psalms 30:1 .) Wicked men rejoice in the downfall and calamity of the good; they accept it as a sign of hypocrisy and of the approaching downfall of goodness and the good cause. And this was why the psalmist rejoiced that in his case they had been disappointed. We sympathize in the success of the cause that is dearest to our heart—the good with the good; the bad with the bad.

2 . God had healed him of the sin which caused the chastisement. ( Psalms 30:2 .) What the instance of the sin was may be seen in the sixth verse — overweening presumption and pride , produced by prosperity. It was that which threatened his safety, his very life; and it imperils the safety of all who are guilty of it. "Pride goeth before destruction," etc. His faults nothing as compared to virtues. And in being healed of the sin he was restored and lifted back to life.

3 . God had removed also the chastisement of his sin. ( Psalms 30:3 .) It would not have been good to remove the chastisement till it had wrought repentance and brought him humility and trust and watchfulness. God always removes the sin before he takes away the chastisement.

II. HE USES HIS OWN EXPERIENCE AS A LESSON OF TRUST TO OTHERS . ( Psalms 30:4 , Psalms 30:5 .)

1 . Sympathy with men and gratitude to God both teach us to do this. Others who were then suffering what he had suffered were encouraged to trust in the goodness of God. But the special ground for praise here insisted on is:

2 . That the dark experiences of the righteous are transient , like the tears of a might ; but their bright experiences as quickly return as the morning after the night. ( Psalms 30:5 .) Long-continued sorrow kills; joy is the life-giver which God sends when sorrow has brought us low The sorrow of the world worketh death, but godly sorrow life.—S.