A GOD FOR ALL SEASONS
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Opening Prayer
Mighty God, I praise you because you sustain the universe; I thank you because your Word tells me that you hold me in the palm of your hand.
Read PSALM 30
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Psalm
Psalm 30
Psalm 30
1 I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
8 To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
Reflect
‘Through all the changing scenes of life, / in trouble and in joy, / the praises of my God shall still / my heart and tongue employ.’1
I have been reminded this week that seasons change! I much prefer the time of year when I can set aside shoes and socks and put on sandals—but this week it was cold, and I had to give in and put on shoes again. This psalmist was well aware that we face changing circumstances. He had been through dreadful times of illness, oppression, and depression, but he had also been through great times of healing, support, and rejoicing. He had known times of feeling really close to God and times of feeling totally distanced, times of hearing God’s voice and times of not being able to sense God’s presence at all. In the good times, we can say ‘I shall never be shaken’ (v. 6), but in the bad times, we may feel we are ‘going down to the pit’ (v. 3).
Life happens. Neither good nor bad will last forever! It reminds me of a colleague who once said that his favorite verse was ‘and it came to pass’ (see KJV). So, this psalm is full of realism. We don’t do anyone a favor if we pretend everything is, or will be, always all right! The psalm is also full of faith, however. The psalmist is confident that, both in the good and in the bad, whether he can sense God’s presence or not, God is there, will be there, and will eventually make himself known to those who seek him. As Christians, we have an even stronger assurance that the bad times will not last forever. ‘For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’2 Let us all, with the psalmist and with all God’s faithful people (v. 4), recognize that God deserves praise in all circumstances.
Apply
It is not always easy, but resolve today to ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’3
Closing prayer
Father in Heaven, in those times when I don’t understand you or what you are doing, help me to remember your goodness and trust in your unfailing love and care for me.
1 ‘Through All the Changing Scenes of Life’, Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady, 1698 2 John 6:40 3 1 Thess 5:16—18.
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