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PSALM

CHAPTER 30

1 A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

During the many years that David spent running from Saul, he felt that his life would soon be over. But now, God has allowed him to become king of Israel and to build a house for his family.

No longer does his family have to move from place to place for safety. No longer does he have to worry about the "enemy" (Saul) taking his life. God has given a great victory to David.

God answered David's prayer (verse 2). Now, I'm quite sure that during those years of running and fearing for his life, David prayed for deliverance many times. He never ceased to pray. The difficulty of life didn't overcome his desire to call upon God, even though it seemed God was not answering his prayer. God answers our prayers in HIS OWN TIME! But we should never cease to pray!

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

And we should never cease to PRAISE God! God is HOLY and we should praise Him for the wonderful things that He does for us even in the difficult moments of life.

Even though David had to move from place to place, and lived in fear and torment, God always provided a place for him to rest in safety. Oh! How we need to see that God IS providing for us even in the difficult moments of life.

Each new day brings a brighter look than the difficulties of yesterday. Because each new day brings us closer to the realization of God's FULL and ETERNAL provision for our souls!

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. 7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

We are all guilty of feeling the way that David did when he was "on top of the mountain," so to speak. After God had delivered him from Saul, and made him king of Israel, David considered that his toil of war was over. Every day would be now as it was this day.

But then, God seemed to "hide His face," and David's mountain was shaken.

Friends, we do not know what tomorrow holds. We should be in constant prayer that God would secure us in our world.

8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

When David's life was again turned to turmoil with war, he called upon God for deliverance. And God ANSWERED!

We shall praise God forever in glory. But what about here on earth? David said God could get no "profit" from him upon this earth if he were dead. Again, the difficulties of life had taken David from the "mountain" to the "valley." But God delivered him!

God turned David's mourning and sorrow into dancing and praise.

Therefore, David makes the commitment to PRAISE God continually.

Friends, the only profit we can give God on this earth is praise. Sometimes in our prosperity, we begin to think every day on this earth will be as it is today. And we forget to PRAISE GOD!

Sometimes the "valleys" of life are God's way to bring us back to giving Him PRAISE!

CHAPTER 31

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

This is an instructional song based upon the experiences of difficulty David faced, the prayer requests he made to God, and God's deliverance.

The song begins with a commitment of trust in God above all other things and circumstances. We should not WAIT until trouble comes to commit our trust to God.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

When trouble did come, David was SURE that God would answer with deliverance because God is our "strong rock" and "House of defence."

People had set a "net" in which to capture David. A scheme had been devised against him. But hew was confident that God Who had CALLED him would UPHOLD him.

Notice that commitment in verse 5. Jesus quoted this commitment upon His death on Calvary's cross (Luke 23:46).

6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; 8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. 9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

Reading the life of David, one cannot come to the conclusion that he was not a sinner. He certainly did things that were wrong.

But he TRIED to serve God. And when David was made aware of his sin, he always confessed it and begged God's mercy and forgiveness. Then he tried to do what was right.

He had tried to do what was right, but people had set this "net" about him. The grief of being persecuted for righteousness sake is a terrible grief. David said his eye was "consumed" with grief.

10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. 12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

For years David ran from Saul's persecution even though David had tried to live as he should. When friends would see him they feared for their lives (verse 11), and the enemy was constantly on his heels.

People spread gossip about him (verse 13), and he lived in constant fear.

But his TRUST was in God (verse 14). David KNEW that God is in control of ALL the affairs of life. And he KNEW that God would deliver as He saw fit (verse 15).

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. 17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

David's greatest desire was for God's presence to be known in his life. Thus the statement, "Make thy face to shine (verse 16)."

His prayer was that God would save him from the problems, and that God whould put "lying lips to silence."

Acknowledging God's goodness (verse 19), he teaches us that God "hides" us in the secret pavilion of His protection (verse 20).

God always has room for His people in His presence. The presence of God in our lives is the surety for deliverance from difficulties.

I heard about a fella that went to his pastor. The pastor greeted him and asked how he was doing. The man was experiencing difficulties in his life, and was wanting the pastor to give him some quick way out of the difficulty. When the pastor asked how he was doing, the man responded, "Pretty good, under the circumstances." Then the pastor asked, "Well, why are you UNDER them! Get under GOD!"

When we get under the COVER of God, we get LOOSE from the cover of circumstances.

21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. 22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

When David thought his life would surely end, and he would be "cut off" from the living, God was DELIVERING him for usefulness.

PRAISE GOD! That's what He is ALWAYS doing for His saints. Therefore, this instructional song calls for Christians to be "of good courage (verse 24)."

Remember, Christian friends, the PRESENCE of God overcomes the presence of difficulties!

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