Psalms 30:4-12

4 Sing praise to the LORD, you holy ones of his. Give thanks to his holy name.

5 For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, But joy comes in the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."

7 You, LORD, when you favored me, made my mountain to stand strong. But when you hid your face, I was troubled.

8 I cried to you, LORD. To the LORD I made supplication:

9 "What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth?

10 Hear, LORD, and have mercy on me. LORD, be my helper."

11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,

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

Psalms 30:4-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 30

\\<>\\. This is the first time that a psalm is called a song; some psalms are called by one name, some by another, and some by both, as here; and some are called hymns: to which distinction of them the apostle refers in Eph 5:19. A psalm was sung upon musical instruments, a song with the voice; it may be this psalm was sung both ways: the occasion of it was the dedication of David's house: the Targum interprets it of the house of the sanctuary, the temple; and so most of the Jewish commentators {i}; which might be called his house, because it was his intention to build it; his heart was set upon it, he provided materials for it, and gave his son Solomon the form of it, and a charge to build it; and, as is thought, composed this psalm to be sung, and which was sung by the Levites at the dedication of it: others, as Aben Ezra, are of opinion it was his own dwelling house, made of cedar, which he dedicated according to the law of Moses, with sacrifices and offerings, prayer and thanksgiving, \2Sa 5:11 7:2 De 20:5\; so Apollinarius calls it a new house David built; but since there is nothing in the whole psalm that agrees with the dedication, either of the temple, or of David's own private house, it seems better, with other interpreters, to understand it of the purging of David's house from the wickedness and incest of his son Absalom, upon his return to it, when the rebellion raised by him was extinguished; which might be reckoned a new dedication of it; see 2Sa 20:3; and to a deliverance from such troubles this psalm well agrees. Theodoret interprets it of the restoration of the human nature by Christ, through his resurrection from the dead. {i} Jarchi, Kimchi, & Abdendana.