psalm 30

Remembering God’s faithfulness

Pre-intro

Good morning church

I hope you have been able to watch the Avalanche play.

You probably know I am a big sports fan and I’m excited that the Avs are up 2-0 in the Stanley Cup.

I also want to wish you a Happy Father’s Day.

I know oftentimes, there are a lot of mixed emotions that can come with Father’s Day.

But I wanted to wish all of you fathers, uncles, grandfathers, all of those people in our lives, a Happy Father’s Day, even in the midst of all of those emotions.

It's always a blessing to have the Word of God read to us, so thank you to Jeff

It seems like I get asked every week who takes care of the churches grass

That's the guy

Last week, I got asked the question if the church had astro-turf and the answer is no.

Jeff is just really good at taking care of the grass.

To be honest I’m glad he was able to read so that I don't have to answer that question anymore.

He and his wife Lynn serve the church in a variety of ways, so please get to know them.

I truly think it will bless you and them

Intro

Many protestant denominations believe it's important for the Word to be read out loud.

One of the first times I experienced that in a church setting, was at an Anglican church in Colorado Springs.

It was my first year working for a church camp called Eagle lake with the Navigators almost ten years ago.

Camp for Eagle Lake was 10 weeks long.

So we would get new campers every Sunday to start a new week of camp

On Sundays, we had the morning to go to a local church before new campers would arrive.

So some friends and I piled into a car and went to an Anglican church that our friend had really wanted to visit.

We went there and everything went great. We were encouraged, got to learn about the Anglican faith, and were ready to head back to camp

So the five of us jumped into an early 2000 ford escape and got on to I-25 to head back.

If you know anything about cars, or specifically recalls on cars (which I don’t know why you would), the 2001-2004 models of ford escape had a very unique recall

This is the statement of the official recall “Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 485,000 units of the Escape SUV from the 2001-04 model years to check for a damaged cruise-control cable that could cause the throttle to stick open”

We happened to be in one of those Escapes

So my friend set the cruise control

That cable was apparently damaged

and our throttle cable was stuck open on I-25

Before we knew it we were going 100+ mph

So my friend Dillion had the reaction that any of us would

He started slamming on the brakes

Because he was slamming on the brakes, I remember being able to smell the brakes and see the smoke coming from the tires.

I remember honking at people to get out of the way

We were swerving in and out of traffic trying to avoid some sort of accident.

And there was this moment when time almost stopped and I remember thinking to myself, “I might die.”

And then one of my friends asked me, “what do we do?”

My first response was, “pray”

And my second answer was to call 911.

Eventually, we put the car in neutral and the engine exploded

Engine oil burst all over the car windshield and we couldn't see.

We were eventually able to pull the emergency brakes because our other brakes were out

and get the car to stop on the side of the road.

Let me tell you this, I can’t remember a time in my life when I was more grateful for gravity and cars that stop.

When was the last time you were grateful for gravity and cars that stopped?

Being in a car that can’t stop makes you really thankful for a car that can stop.

Even still when I remember that story, I grow in gratitude for brakes and cruise control that work, and just for life itself and being able to stand on God’s green earth.

Pre-Message

Today as we continue our series in the book of Psalms, many people believe that David is writing this Psalm after a near-death experience

Maybe some of you have near-death experiences as well.

But what typically happens when you escape death is a reorientation of how you look at the world

Just like when I got out of the car, I was happy to stand on the ground, maybe for the first time ever in my life.

Often times when we understand just how close we were to losing something, we begin to become more thankful for it.

That's why Psalm 30 is a thanksgiving Psalm, because David is remembering this rescue that leads him to thanksgiving.

So before we dig in and see what David says, let’s pray

Message

The title of this Psalm leads us to the near-death experience that David may be writing about here.

The title we have for Psalm 30 is “ A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.”

These titles in the Psalms can become tools for us,

They help us understand the intent of the author and context on what is maybe happening in the author’s life

The first thing we see is that Psalm 30, is a Psalm of David.

David was a great King of Isreal

So this is a Psalm that is written by David

The second part we see in our title is that Psalm 30 was meant to be sung at the dedication of the temple

What’s interesting about this is that at this point in Isreal's history, they don't have a temple.

But this title provides a clue of where we should hone in on David’s life, so we can try to understand the emotions and meaning behind this Psalm.

The clue that it gives us is the word, “temple”

It is the same Greek word that is found in the account of 1 Chronicles 21 and 22.

These chapters mention points in David's life where he talks about dedicating and building a temple for the Lord.

So what we want to do is try to connect these two places in Scripture so that we can gain a better understanding of both of them.

1 Chronicles 21 gives us some insight into why David was experiencing the emotions he was as he is writing this Psalm

At the beginning of this chapter, we see that Satan is standing against Israel and he entices David to take a census.

David does this census purely to number Israel for his own gain

He wanted to see just how great Israel was under his reign, out of pride.

So he sends Joab, the commander of his army, to do this census

Joab doesn’t think it’s a good idea but does it anyway.

They eventually count 1.1 million men who drew the sword in Israel and close to a half-million in Judah.

This is where we pick up in verse 7.

So if you have your Bibles please turn to 1 Chronicles 21:7-18

1 Chronicles 21:7–18 ESV

But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” And the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’ ” So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Choose what you will: either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.” Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

So really crazy story, right?

Let me try to recap so we can all get on the same page.

David takes a census and over a million people are now in the nation of Isreal.

Now taking a census was not a sin

But the motivation behind it was self-centered

God being the one who knows hearts, saw this and was angry

Because David had forgotten that he was first a lowly shepherd

and that it was God who had given him life abundant

David’s victories and greatness had come from God, not himself

So God by his grace disciplines David and Israel for this.

It was actually good for David and for Israel that God disciplined them.

Otherwise, they would have completely fallen, and Israel itself would have fallen.

They would have run away from where life resides in God, and probably put their faith in David.

God gives David three options for the consequences of David’s sin, not necessarily atonement for his sin

Because consequences are not what pays for sins, but atonement does

David humbles himself before God because he sees that he has sinned and is terrified

And he says it's better for me to fall into your hands (3 days option) than for famine or our enemies to rule over Isreal.

So the Lord sent pestilence down and 70,000 men died

While all this is happening they see an Angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with His sword drawn about to destroy the city of Jerusalem.

So my near-death experience is nowhere near David’s near-death experience.

David didn't almost die because of a car accident, but by the angel of the Lord with his sword drawn against his entire city.

Later on in the Chapter David goes and buys the land where the Temple would eventually be built and he sacrifices for the atonement of his sins

This was the atonement because of his sins.

This is what David was remembering as he is writing this Psalm

So all of this context is coming into this Psalm.

What I’ve tried to do to keep this Psalm organized for us is to break it into 4 different sections of what is happening.

The first section of this Psalm is remembering our rescuer.

Let’s look at verses 1-3 for that.

1. (1-3)Remembering the Rescuer

Psalm 30:1 “I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.” (ESV)

So David starts off with “ I will Extol you, O Lord.”

Meaning I will exalt you, God, I will hold you high

Why does David want to worship God?

Because God has “drawn David up”

These words “drawn up” have been used in the Bible before,

They paint a picture of what David is explaining through this Hebrew poetry.

Of being drawn up from a deep well

or some commentaries say a better picture is “ being drawn up out of a flood”

This is David communicating that God has rescued him from the distress he was once in and pulled him up from his enemies.

David, in his prayer, in 1 chron 21:13 is asking God to please not let his enemies rejoice over him

Meaning please don’t hand over this nation in battle to our enemies.

And as David is recalling and remembering this account, he is saying that God answered that prayer.

Here the enemies no longer have the ability to conquer him.

That leads us to verses 2 and 3

Psalm 30:2–3 ESV

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

One thing that I think is important here is that David is remembering this event from 1 Chronicles that was fairly monumental in his life.

It’s not every day that you see an angel of the Lord with a sword drawn over the capital of your nation ready to destroy it.

So David is recalling or remembering how this all played out.

look at the language that we see in verses 1-3

“Drawn me up”, “healed”, “brought up my soul”, “restored”

All of these words at least in English are past tense

but they still have present implications

My point here is that David is remembering and recalling how God had been faithful in rescuing him through this event.

As we went through the book of Psalms last year we talked a little bit about this lost practice in the Christian faith called lamenting

Meaning how to biblically complain to God in the midst of pain and grief and trust in the Lord

I would like to put before you that there is another lost practice that we see throughout the Bible and that is the practice of remembering

Throughout all of the Old and New testament We see that God calls his people to remember Him rightly

Whether that be through memorials, feasts, or festivals, the Israelites were often commanded to remember who God is and what He has done for them.

So what does it mean to “Remember” in the Christian faith?

I think we’re getting a picture of that here in Psalm 30.

Remembering is intentionally recalling God’s past faithfulness to bring about assurance of hope and change of action for our present and future.

Remembering is to reach back to recall our history (human or personal) and call to mind the character of the God who is faithful.

So that we can pull it forward into the present to bring about praise and adoration for us currently.

It’s bringing the past to the present in order to spur on the future.

It’s the opposite of nostalgia.

Nostalgia stays at the recalling step, it brings the present into your past

Which leads to restlessness and distrust in God

This is best described by the phrase as “the Good ol’ days.”

Where we wish things would be like what they once were

Whether that be with the church, family members, marriage, Covid, our nation etc.

But all nostalgia leads to is selfishness, a grasp for control and restlessness.

And all of those actions reveal a heart that doesn't trust where the Lord has us in the present.

Nastalgia brings us to a place where we will never be content because we are always trying to go back

That is why remembering rightly is important

Remembering brings the past forward to lead to a change of heart towards our creator in the present and future

That's what David does here; he is recalling the past so it affects the present and future.

That leads us to our second section of the Psalm.

2. Remembering God leads to Praise (4-5)

Psalm 30:4–5 ESV

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

So in the first 3 verses, David is remembering that he has been rescued, he has been pulled up from the grave

Remembering that God rescued him and that the city wasn’t destroyed because of God’s mercy.

Because of this remembering God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace, it now leads to the present.

He calls “all of the saints to join him in praise and to give thanks to his holy name

In verse four it's this corporate remembering of deliverance, because if David would have fallen the rest of Israel may have as well

David reflecting and remembering his rescue leads from an individual basis to a corporate level.

He charges all of the saints to praise God’s name because He is good.

We oftentimes can look at this consequence as too harsh of a judgment, but it was actually a mercy to discipline Israel to keep them on track.

What we’ve discussed and seen in the Psalms so far is that it is out of God’s love and kindness that He disciplines.

So what we know is that this was for Israel’s good.

These verses say that “His anger is but a moment, but his favor is a lifetime”

Meaning that even though God may be displeased with them at moments

His faithfulness and mercy are more

Don’t we often deserve much more of his anger?

Church, what a promise this is for us to hold on to

Even when we displease God, His anger is short, but His favor is for a lifetime.

Because of what Christ has done, He has taken away the forever anger

Now what we see when there is anger is that it’s out of discipline and love, because He cares for us.

This weeping was temporary, but joy came in the morning

This is an emphasis on the certainty of God’s comfort and joy to His people. Morning always follows night, and the weeping believer may be confident that as he keeps his focus on God, He will bring him once again to joy. “‘Weeping may endure for a night’: but nights are not for ever.” (Spurgeon)

Even if there is a long season of suffering, even if it is one that leads to death, if we are in Christ, it will not last forever.

Joy will come in the morning.

So there’s been two different sections that we’ve broken this Psalm up into this far.

1-3: Remembering the rescuer

3-5: Remembering the rescuer produces praise

And now remembering the rescuer leads us to humility

Let’s look at verses 6-10

3. Remembering leads to humility (6-10)

Psalm 30:6-10 “As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: “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? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!””

So this helps us to see our third section which is that remembering the rescuer leads to humility.

David is wrestling with what we talked about in 1 Chronicles 21, where there is all this pride in him and he wants to show how great he is, which is why he’s doing this census.

In a sense, he is saying, “In my prosperity, I became so blind, because I thought, ‘I shall never be moved.’”

There was this pride in David because he thought that Israel was so great and he had so many men, because of how great he was.

So because of this pride, God’s anger was revealed.

And the way that His anger was revealed was that God hid his face from David, He withdrew from Him

Essentially, God challenged the pride of David, which produced a humility within him.

So then what does David rember doing?

He goes to the Lord and cried and pleaded for mercy.

He says, “If my enemies rule over me, what good is it?”

David is saying, “You answered my prayer by being merciful to me. When I deserved nothing, but your anger, you spared my life to fulfill the longing in my heart to praise you.”

Please be merciful to me, don’t give me over to my enemies.

O Lord be my helper.

“Another compact, expressive, ever fitting prayer. It is suitable to hundreds of the cases of the Lord’s people; it is well becoming in the minister when he is going to preach, to the sufferer upon the bed of pain, to the toiler in the field of service, to the believer under temptation, to the man of God under adversity; when God helps, difficulties vanish.” (Spurgeon)

This leads us to the last section of our Psalm.

4. Remembering leads to joy and thanksgiving (11-12)

Remembering leads to praise

Remembering leads to humility

Now remembering leads to joy and thanksgiving in verses 11-12.

Psalm 30:11–12 ESV

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

What we see here is that David’s mourning has been transformed into joy and thanksgiving.

But being rescued from this shame and pain has turned his heart to experience thanksgiving and joy.

So the place where he carried much shame in messing up, is now the place where he carries much joy because of God’s faithfulness.

When we remember who God is and what he’s done for us, it spurs us on because of His faithfulness to us to be faithful back to Him.

In a sense, remembering God’s faithfulness in the past, helps us to trust in God’s character forever.

Ultimately what we see in this Psalm is that remembering God’s faithfulness leads to praise and adoration for our God.

Throughout all of human history, we have seen that he has been faithful, kind, loving, and just.

But David here is saying, for the dedication of the temple, “Remember God’s faithfulness to us when we didn’t deserve it.”

Conclusion

Same spiritual truths are true for us still

If you are in Christ you have been delivered from the pit of the grave

We were dead in our tresspasses and sin

Spiritually before Christ our Souls belonged in the pit

Psalm 30:1–3 ESV

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

This something we can still say today,

When you remember this rightly it leads to praise of our rescuer

It also leads us to this humility

that we were made from dust

Just like David, before Christ we were weak and fail

That any strength we have been given is from God , whether its praising him in the midst of struggle, or Parenting, or whatever it maybe.

We have to remember that we are but dust, and that its the breathe of God that brought us to life.

We are nothing on our own.

our strength is not from us

“Sleep is a daily reminder from God that we are not God. Once a day God sends us to bed like patients with a sickness. The sickness is a chronic tendency to think we are in control and that our work is indispensable. To cure us of this disease God turns us into helpless sacks of sand once a day.” J Pipes

As we are reminded about our rescuer and our creator, which it the triune God of the universe.

we are reminded of our weaknesses, We can’t help but give praise

Because when we remember rightly we see

God wasn’t just passive or toloarant in spare us from what we deserve we deserve

But He gave us every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.

Not only did we not get what we deserved, but we were rewarded as if we did it perfectly the entire time.

God's mercy and grace are more than we can imagine

Rembering Christ also leads to joy and thanksgiving

isn’t it crazy, that if you are believer in Christ that no matter what you are going though you always have hope

The reason we can have hope is because no matter what kind of suffering you may be going through we know that its temporary

There may be moring in the night, but joy comes in the morning

even if we have to wait until we are carried home by God, we Know that eventually that our suffering will cease

Therefor church, in this life we are never without hope

and because of that we have joy

And because we have those things, we can always give thanks to our God

Church really my charge this week is to remember Jesus Christ

Just like Pual charges Timothy to do in 2 Tim 2:8

2 Timothy 2:8 ESV

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,

Remember church, who Christ is, as we remember let it lead to assurance of hope and change of action for our present and future.

God is worthy our Praise and thanks

What a grace it is that God does not leave us to our own devices to try to know and remember Him, but He has given us tools to help us.

Church

The Bible

Prayer

Community

That brings us to communion,

What communion is a time of remembrance, As we remember it leads to praise, humility ( repentance) Joy and thanksgiving

Questions

When was the last time you sat and remembered that Jesus has rescued you? (if you are in Christ)

When was the last time you were humbled in your remembrance of Jesus?

How does remembering lead you to thanksgiving and praise?