I Will Extol You, O LORD
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
O LORD, my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me ...
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
"I shall never be moved" ...
you hid your face; I was dismayed.
"What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you? ...
You have turned my mourning into dancing."
-- Psalm 30:2, 6, 7b, 9a, 11a
Theme: Thanksgiving for recovery from critical illness
Outline
1-3 -- Thanks to the LORD for healing and for deliverance from death.
4-5 -- Let the faithful praise him, too.
6-7 -- His experience: his smugness needed correction.
8-10 -- Death is such a waste!
11-12 -- His life is prolonged for the praise of God.
Notes
• Thanksgiving
• Death (See note on Psalm 6.) Unlike pagans, the psalmists do not look on death as a release to be welcomed, because they knew life with God is good. He made us and cares for us. Knowing Yahweh, his great redeeming works and steadfast covenant love prompt the hunger for something better than death to be revealed.
For Reflection
• What are we here for? Why should God prolong one's life? What purpose can sickness have? What purpose can healing have?
Prayer
Lord God, for the gift of life in all its goodness we praise you. But even more we praise you for the promise that sorrow and death shall not take from us the glorious opportunity to live for you with joys eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
and you have healed me ...
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
"I shall never be moved" ...
you hid your face; I was dismayed.
"What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you? ...
You have turned my mourning into dancing."
-- Psalm 30:2, 6, 7b, 9a, 11a
Theme: Thanksgiving for recovery from critical illness
Outline
1-3 -- Thanks to the LORD for healing and for deliverance from death.
4-5 -- Let the faithful praise him, too.
6-7 -- His experience: his smugness needed correction.
8-10 -- Death is such a waste!
11-12 -- His life is prolonged for the praise of God.
Notes
• Thanksgiving
• Death (See note on Psalm 6.) Unlike pagans, the psalmists do not look on death as a release to be welcomed, because they knew life with God is good. He made us and cares for us. Knowing Yahweh, his great redeeming works and steadfast covenant love prompt the hunger for something better than death to be revealed.
For Reflection
• What are we here for? Why should God prolong one's life? What purpose can sickness have? What purpose can healing have?
Prayer
Lord God, for the gift of life in all its goodness we praise you. But even more we praise you for the promise that sorrow and death shall not take from us the glorious opportunity to live for you with joys eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.