Psalm 30

This psalm features all kinds of comparisons and contrasts. Helping and healing. Bringing up and going down. It's this poetic device which ties David's thought together. Most striking to me are concerning the Lord-- His anger lasts only a moment but His favor lasts a lifetime. How odd it is to think of God being angry with His people. But then again, His temper raged against Israel all throughout the Old Testament. His anger should burn against me in my rebellion as well.

In verse 6, David speaks of feeling secure in his own strength and how false that supposed security actually was. It was only when God "favored" him that David's life was truly firm.

"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." What a testimony about God's power in a person's life. Certainly my life is not without grief and heartache, but it is in the Lord where my joy is based.