Psalm 30 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 30 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
Verse 2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
Verse 3O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
Verse 4Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
Verse 5For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Verse 6As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
Verse 7By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
Verse 8To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication:
Verse 9"What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Verse 10Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!"
Verse 11You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
Verse 12so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Devotion
Can you dance like the psalmist? Our psalmist was apparently sick unto death, then experienced God's healing touch. "You've turned my mourning into dancing again, you've taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy!"
I once had a co-worker named Dave who would effuse animation and excitement over the smallest successes. In a good moment, everyone knew about it; when he had a joke, we all heard it! Dave's happy voice and noisy laugh would spontaneously fill the office. I thought I'd grow tired of Dave because he was so transparent, boisterous and naļve. Instead I found that he was often the only one who actually saw clearly and reacted honestly. And twenty years and two careers years later, I still miss the guy.
How about you? Can you celebrate what God has done? Can you be loud and shameless, joy-filled and jubilant? Can you take the time to notice that God has been busy—do you have time to dance?
Prayer
Thank you, O God, for those healing touches and resurrection moments you offer. Teach us the bold joy of noisy rejoicing, and prepare us for your boisterous resurrection party that exceeds imagination! Amen.