I will exalt you, Lord, because you have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies
to triumph over me.
Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me.
Lord, you brought me up from Sheol; you spared me from among those going down to the Pit.
Sing to the Lord, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.” (Psalm 30:1-5 CSB)
David composed this psalm after God delivered him from a near-death experience. It was a dark time for David, when he thought his life would actually come to an end. This psalm is a thank-you note to God for deliverance. David’s prayer for help had been answered, so in return, he offers praise to God and proclaims his gratitude.
“I will exalt you, LORD, because you have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me.”
Our prayer life is the foundation of our praise life. When God answers our prayers, we ought to give him praise. We worship God for who he is and we praise him for what he’s done. So, David praises God for answering his cry for help and delivering him from death’s doorstep. Then David invites the saints to join him in praising God.
Like David, we need to make it a habit to tell God thank you for what he has done for us. You may want to write your own thank-you note. He has delivered us from death and given us the gift of eternal life through faith in the finished work of Christ. He has provided all of our needs according to his riches in glory. His anger is for a moment, but his favor is eternal.
God is greater than our circumstances, so trust in him no matter the circumstance and cry out to him no matter how dark the night; in due time the Son will shine. As David answers us, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!
Adron Robinson is pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills.