Psalm 30
The discipline of God
Intro
√ The discipline of God
"Discipline"
That's not a word that most of us like! We hear, "discipline" and immediately we think of punishment and pain!
While the word actually means "training", it certainly can and often does include some form of punishment and pain when nothing else will get out attention!
In psalm 30 we find the record of a time in David's life when he was disciplined for his sin.
More importantly, we find that David learned from the Lord's discipline and made the changes in his life that God desired.
What about you and me? Do we shrink from the Lord's discipline, or do we receive it and make the changes in our life for which God sent the discipline?
Ex. Note God's instruction
Heb. 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
Heb. 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
Heb. 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
Heb. 12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Heb. 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
Heb. 12:10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Heb.
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Ap. As God's children we will be disciplined when we mess up!
Is the Lord trying to get your attention tonight? Has He been speaking to you about a sin issue in your life?
You have a choice to make; will you chose to learn the easy way, or the hard way?
God will speak to you privately and give you a space to get your life in order.
However, if you don't listen to Him - He will bring it out into the open where the discipline is much more painful!
It's your choice. Remember, however, that God disciplines us because He loves us and wants the best for us - that's what David found in his life.
Superscript
√ Note the title
"A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David"
I don't normally make a big deal out of the title (or superscript) of the psalm because it's not God's inspired word.
It is simply a note of the scribe or translator who first put the psalm into the record of God's Word.
However, this time we find a hint as to the circumstance surrounding the writing of this psalm that is very important for us that we might gain insight from David's life.
√ Dedication of the house of David
Some of your translations may read…
"A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the
That is because the word for "house" is also used to mean the "house of
God", or "
Many Bible students believe that this note ties us to the
events of I Chron. 21 where David dedicated the site of the future
Whether or not this is the case the instruction of psalm 30 is that David learned an important lesson from his experience of God's chastening for his sin.
In the end David praised God for giving him the opportunity to repent and to receive God's healing.
Let's learn from David's mistake!
From sickness to healing (vs. 1-3)
Ps. 30:1 I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
Ps. 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.
Ps. 30:3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
√ From sickness to health
In these first few verses we find David praising God for His healing power! Apparently David had been very sick, even to the point of death!
Note the language of vs. 2 & 3…
"You healed me"
"O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit."
"from the grave" speaks of the nearness of death! That is, whatever sickness David experienced it was serious enough that he was sure he would die!
Yet, we find David rejoicing because God was faithful to hear his prayer and bring healing.
√ David's illness
It would appear that David had allowed a self-sufficient pride to creep into his heart. The result was that the Lord removed His hand of blessing from David and he became sick.
Note David's confession in vs. 6
Ps. 30:6 Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”
Or, in the NIV…
Ps. 30:6 When I felt secure, I said, “I shall never be shaken.”
The Hebrew for "prosperity", or "secure" is…
Shelev = sheh'-lev
…which implies a careless ease. Apparently David had forgotten his need to trust the Lord and in the midst of blessing he boasted in his self-confidence!
Ap. Prosperous Christians
How many of us have begun our walk with Jesus with a complete abandonment to Him? Totally trusting Him for every need in our life…
Money to pay the rent
Food to feed our family
A job when we were stuck in a poor one
…but, then after the Lord responded to our prayers and brought us into a place of prosperity we became careless and lazy about our dependence upon the Lord!?
Convicting isn't it!
It's the greatest challenge to American Christians today. We live in the most powerful & most prosperous nation in the history of Man.
Yet, church attendance has never been lower and sin in the Church never more prevalent.
Listen, if we as individuals forget where all these blessings come from and begin to boast in our prosperity and security believing that we are somehow responsible for it…
…God will remove His hand of protection in our life!
Why?
Because God is more interested in our eternal health and comfort than our present situation.
The point, He will allow sickness & tragedy to come into our lives that we might not turn away from Him as did Solomon!
Look with me at a sobering verse…
1Co. 5:5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, let's learn from David's mistake and not allow the prosperity and security in our lives produce a self-sufficient pride and apathy toward the Lord!
From weeping to joy (vs. 4-5)
Ps. 30:4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
Ps. 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
√ Joy comes in the morning!
We now find David singing praise to God and calling all of us to join him in doing so!
The reason?
Because God's anger is temporary, but is love is permanent!
David describes God's anger as being like the night, and the joy of His deliverance like the morning.
Ex. Suffering with an illness through the night - seems like you'll never make it to the break of day.
Yet, with the morning light and the warmth of the sun comes relief from the fever and the pain of the dark night.
So with God's anger and the joy of His deliverance. While He may bring chastisement on us for some sin…
…His anger soon disappears like the night and is replaced the warmth and light of His deliverance.
Ap. God is faithful to the humble heart
Remember, God never allows anything to come into our lives - even His discipline - except that He means it to bring good in our lives.
When you're in the midst of difficult times, suffering, or great discouragement…
…turn to the Lord and let Him make the promise of this verse real in your life!
Ex. Amy Carmichael
His thoughts said, "the way is rough!"
His Father said, "but every step bringeth thee nearer to thy home."
His thoughts said, "the fight is fierce!"
His Father said, "He who is near to his Captain is sure to be a target for the archers."
His thoughts said, "the night is long!"
His Father said, "but joy cometh in the morning".
So, when you've repented before the Lord and made things right with Him…
…praise Him along with David that His anger is only temporary but His joy everlasting!
From mourning to singing! (vs. 8-12)
Ps. 30:8 I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication:
Ps. 30:9 “What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?
Ps. 30:10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!”
Ps. 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
Ps. 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
√ From mourning to singing!
David humbled himself before God and begged for help and mercy. When God saw that His discipline had accomplished its purpose in David's life He healed him and forgave his sins.
So, David…
Put away his sackcloth and put on his "happy shoes"
…and began to sing and dance before the Lord!
Can you relate?
Haven't you ever come out from under the discipline of God and found yourself unable to contain the joy that He has placed in your heart!!
Ap. Make worship and praise of God a normal part of your life
Don't wait to be delivered from the discipline of God to begin to praise Him, make it a part of your daily life!
Worship and praise will keep your heart soft before the Lord and maintain a fire of passion for Jesus.
While we do not dance before the Lord in our public gathering, may I suggest that you do so in your prayer closet when the Spirit moves you to do so!
Close
√ Remember,
as God's children we will be disciplined when we mess up!
Is the Lord trying to get your attention tonight? Has He been speaking to you about a sin issue
in your life?
You have a choice to make; will you chose to learn the easy way, or the hard way?
God will speak to you privately and give you a space to get
your life in order.
However, if you don't listen to Him - He will bring it out
into the open where the discipline is much more painful!
It's your choice.
Remember, however, that God disciplines us because He loves us and wants
the best for us - that's what David found in his life.