Psalm 30 — Dedication after Restoration

The heading of the psalm indicates that David wrote the psalm at the time of dedication of a building. It could have been a private dwelling or it could have been a religious building (the word translated as ‘temple’ means ‘house’).

David wrote this psalm as an expression of his gratitude for an experience of divine deliverance. He had been in great danger from a multitude of foes. Their attacks had caused a sense of oppression in his soul (something like the experience he describes at the beginning of Psalm 40), but the Lord, the heavenly physician, had restored his joy and renewed his spiritual energy (vv. 1-3).

His experience was not merely for himself to consider when he went to worship God. Other believers who observed him could take encouragement from his testimony of divine restoration. David would have known that such lows are common among God’s people. Yet their experiences of divine chastisement bring spiritual good (vv. 4-5).

David reveals that he had been guilty of self-confidence when things had been going well — he had assumed that they would continue. He knew that God had given them, but he forgot that God could bring changes that would alter what was happening. This happened to David, and dismay became prevalent in his outlook. He sensed the absence of God, and there is nothing worse than that for a believer (vv. 6-7).

Nevertheless, he knew what to do — pray to his covenant Lord. His prayer was strong, but focussed on a precious divine attribute — God’s mercy. He used arguments as petitions, not because he thought he was wiser than God, but because they seemed obvious ones to use (vv. 8-10). He did not have access to God’s secret will, so he prayed humbly according to his circumstances and asked for gracious restoration of his soul and body.

The outcome was that the Lord heard his prayers. Instead of being downcast, David became joyful. The joy of the Lord became his motive for service. He now had a song, which his tongue (his glory) would use in praising his Lord always (vv. 11-12).

Why is this psalm recorded for us? It tells us that the Lord can greatly restore our souls, but that the restoration may include deep chastisement for our sinful folly.