Veroni's Views

The following quote from one of David’s Psalms is appropriate on a day when the USA celebrates Thanksgiving.

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” (Psalm 30.11,12)

Boy, this guy must have had great reasons for being joyful!  Scholars believe the Psalm was written after God stopped the great plague He had used to discipline David after David had ordered the census of Israel. (1 Chronicles 21 and 22).

David lists his reasons for being joyful.

“I will exalt you O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths…” (Psalm 30.1). “…I called to you for help and you healed me.” (verse 2). “You brought me up from the grave, you spared me from going down into the pit.” (verse 3)

It seems that David had grown over-confident in himself and that that was the reason why he had to be disciplined. (Psalm 30.6).  David finds reason for rejoicing even in the manner God treated him:

“Sing to the Lord you saints of his, praise his holy name.  For his anger lasts only a moment,  but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night,  but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (verses 4 and 5)

We admire David’s confession of his own weaknesses and his gratitude for God’s deliverance.  We feel our hearts being stirred by the joyous conclusion to the Psalm:

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” (Psalm 30.11,12)

As you place yourself alongside of David’s experiences, what do you think?  Are you perhaps a little envious of him?  Do you wish you could have the same dramatic reasons for rejoicing?

I want to suggest to you that each one of us has comparable testimonies.   “For He (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” (1 Colossians 1.13).  “… when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3.5) 

We have experienced the promise that He would never leave us or forsake us.  That even when we went through the valley of the shadow of death, we did not need to be afraid,  because He was there.  How many times have we sinned and were forgiven?  How many mistakes have we made that He helped us either rectify or deal with the consequences?       

How many prayers has God answered?  How many blessings has He poured out on us and our families?

All these and many more facts show that you and I have as much reason to be grateful, and rejoice in God’s presence as David had.

God wants us to be glad, while the enemy pounces on a sad disposition to bring about discouragement.  Let us ask God to fill us with gratitude and joy.  And remember the practical advice from Proverbs 17.22:  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

So we can say with David:  

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”  (Psalm 30.11,12)