Bible in a Year… Day 80

Back to Psalms today. I’m playing a bit of catch up from last week, so today’s reading covers Psalm 30-35.

Psalm 30 (NIV)
¹I will exalt you, O LORD,
    for you lifted me out of the depths
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

²O LORD my God, I called to you for help
    and you healed me.

³O LORD, you brought me up from the grave;
    you spared me from going down into the pit.

⁴Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
    praise his holy name.

⁵For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;
    weeping may remain for a night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

⁶When I felt secure, I said,
    “I will never be shaken.”

⁷O LORD, when you favored me,
    you made my mountain [c] stand firm;
    but when you hid your face,
    I was dismayed.

⁸To you, O LORD, I called;
    to the Lord I cried for mercy:

⁹“What gain is there in my destruction,
    in my going down into the pit?
    Will the dust praise you?
    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

¹⁰Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
    O LORD, be my help.”

¹¹You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

¹²that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
    O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

I’m not sure exactly what it is about this Psalm that stands out to me, but I really like it. Perhaps it’s the imagery running through my head when reading it, seeing despairing individuals turned into joyous worshippers of God. Perhaps it’s the thought of answered prayers. Whatever the case, the theme of God’s mercy and love for us runs deep here, and it’s powerful.

We all need reminders of the joy that’s found in Christ sometimes. This Psalm does the trick.

As a side note, there’s a great song based on this Psalm, in case it didn’t click for you… “Trading My Sorrows”. Great lyrics on the same theme…

I’m trading my sorrows
I’m trading my shame
I’m laying them down
For the joy of the Lord

I’m trading my sickness
I’m trading my pain
I’m laying them down
For the joy of the Lord.

(Yes Lord refrain…)

I’m pressed but not crushed
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse
For his promise will endure
That his joy is going
To be my strength

Though my sorrows may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning.

I’m trading my sorrows…