Day 178: Psalm 30- Hope For a Joyful Ending

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity. “I shall never be moved.” 7 By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face; I was dismayed. 8 To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!”
 
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
 
Meditation
During a recent family movie night our children revolted because a long and engaging movie, that Lisa had picked, ended very sad. The underdog was robbed of victory AND died.  The movie was based on a true story. Lisa assumed it must end in victory and/or redemption if they made a movie about it.  Everyone loves endings where people live happily ever after. The problem is we do not live in a fairy tale. 
 
Hope for a happy ending is found only in the gospel. Through the promises of God the power of a happy ending can be experienced in the present moment. This Psalm of Praise is for the occasion of the dedication of the temple, the provision for God’s presence with His people.  In God’s presence all sad things become untrue.
 
A central piece of praise is reversal through the Gospel- Weeping becomes joy! Mourning, a normal part of life in a fallen world, develops into dancing. The gospel transforms garments of grief into garments of gladness! Because the presence of God brings the fullness of the promises and work of God.
 
Jesus promises our sorrows will be transformed to joy that no one can steal from our hearts (John 16:20-22). Paul teaches that glory comes through our sorrow (2 Corinthians 4:17). The gospel transforms destitution into dancing.
 
Sorrow, grief, sadness, death, sickness, suffering… are not the end of the story!  The ultimate underdog, Jesus Christ, came out victorious, rising from the grave and defeating death, so all that hope in Jesus Christ can experience the power of His promises for a JOYFUL ending today.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you overwhelmed by the brokenness and despair of the fallen world, longing for a joyful ending? Where do you need the victory of God the most?
 
-The Psalm reminds us of the power of the presence and promises of God where our mourning is turned to dancing. Have you experienced the power of hope freeing you to dance?
 
-Greif is a gift, acknowledging the value of something or someone lost. But in Christ the garments of grief are replaced with garments of gladness. Do you need to change clothes!?!
 
Key Verse
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,