I always set aside some time to write this letter on the Monday before I need to send it to Georgina-in-the-office, and today my thoughts come from a Psalm of David which is one of the set readings for today – Psalm 30 – a Psalm which takes us from the depths of despair to the heights of exuberant joy and dancing.
Let’s look at key verses in Psalm 30:
Verse1: I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. The Psalm begins with David rejoicing in the Lord. He is so grateful to God for rescuing him from terrible circumstances which made him feel as if he was at the bottom of a dark pit, until God lifted him up like drawing a bucket from a well. Now that experience is in the past. He has been lifted out of the darkness into the sunlight. He knows that all the praise for this should go to God. Have you ever been in the depths of despair? How did God lift you up? How did you show your gratitude?
Verse 4: Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. David then bursts into song, and encourages everyone around to join with him in celebrating. How good are we at sharing the bad times and celebrating the good, both with our church family and, more importantly, with God?
Verse 8: To you, O Lord, I called: to the Lord I cried for mercy. David tells of his dependence on God to rescue him from his situation, instead of relying on his own strength. How often do we think the solution is all down to us, instead of handing over our problem to God?
Verse 11: You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. What a transformation, from utter despair to dancing with joy! This is the result of David’s closeness to God, sharing troubles in prayer and always remembering his goodness with gratitude and celebration. What have you got to celebrate today?
With love, Margaret