7 Jehovah, by thy favour thou hadst made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled.
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; thou takest away their breath, they expire and return to their dust.
And my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them, and they will say in that day, Have not these evils befallen me because my God is not in my midst?
And now, Jehovah, thou art that God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant; and now, let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever; for thou, Jehovah, hast blessed [it], and it shall be blessed for ever.
Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy care hath preserved my spirit;
For I expected good, and there came evil; and I waited for light, but there came darkness. My bowels well up, and rest not; days of affliction have confronted me. I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up, I cry in the congregation. I am become a brother to jackals, and a companion of ostriches. My skin is become black [and falleth] off me, and my bones are parched with heat. My harp also is [turned] to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of weepers.
For thou, Jehovah, wilt bless the righteous [man]; with favour wilt thou surround him as [with] a shield.
Why, Jehovah, standest thou afar off? [Why] hidest thou thyself in times of distress?
And thou didst give me the shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand held me up; and thy condescending gentleness hath made me great. Thou didst enlarge my steps under me, and mine ankles have not wavered.
For a moment [is passed] in his anger, a life in his favour; at even weeping cometh for the night, and at morn there is rejoicing.
For not by their own sword did they take possession of the land, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst delight in them.
For thou art the glory of their strength; and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 30
Commentary on Psalms 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 30
Ps 30:1-12. Literally, "A Psalm-Song"—a composition to be sung with musical instruments, or without them—or, "Song of the dedication," &c. specifying the particular character of the Psalm. Some suppose that of David should be connected with the name of the composition, and not with "house"; and refer for the occasion to the selection of a site for the temple (1Ch 21:26-30; 22:1). But "house" is never used absolutely for the temple, and "dedication" does not well apply to such an occasion. Though the phrase in the Hebrew, "dedication of the house of David," is an unusual form, yet it is equally unusual to disconnect the name of the author and the composition. As a "dedication of David's house" (as provided, De 20:5), the scope of the Psalm well corresponds with the state of repose and meditation on his past trials suited to such an occasion (2Sa 5:11; 7:2). For beginning with a celebration of God's delivering favor, in which he invites others to join, he relates his prayer in distress, and God's gracious and prompt answer.
1. lifted me up—as one is drawn from a well (Ps 40:2).
2. healed me—Affliction is often described as disease (Ps 6:2; 41:4; 107:20), and so relief by healing.
3. The terms describe extreme danger.
soul—or, "myself."
grave—literally, "hell," as in Ps 16:10.
hast kept me … pit—quickened or revived me from the state of dying (compare Ps 28:1).
4. remembrance—the thing remembered or memorial.
holiness—as the sum of God's perfections (compare Ps 22:3), used as name (Ex 3:15; Ps 135:13).
5. Relatively, the longest experience of divine anger by the pious is momentary. These precious words have consoled millions.
6, 7. What particular prosperity is meant we do not know; perhaps his accession to the throne. In his self-complacent elation he was checked by God's hiding His face (compare Ps 22:24; 27:9).
7. troubled—confounded with fear (Ps 2:5).
8-11. As in Ps 6:5; 88:10; Isa 38:18, the appeal for mercy is based on the destruction of his agency in praising God here, which death would produce. The terms expressing relief are poetical, and not to be pressed, though "dancing" is the translation of a word which means a lute, whose cheerful notes are contrasted with mourning, or (Am 5:16) wailing.
11. sackcloth—was used, even by kings, in distress (1Ch 21:16; Isa 37:1) but "gladness," used for a garment, shows the language to be figurative.
12. Though "my" is supplied before "glory" it is better as in Ps 16:9, to receive it as used for tongue, the organ of praise. The ultimate end of God's mercies to us is our praise to Him.