Peter Barnes: The Dangers in Blessings, Psalm 30 (Sunday 10 May 2020 Morning Service, 9.00 a.m.)
The word in the superscription is actually ‘house’, for the temple as such was not built until Solomon’s day. It could be referring to 2 Sam.7:1-2 or 2 Sam.24:16-18.
1. Grateful praise for God’s healing. – 30:1-5. David had been quite rattled, and almost died, probably from an illness. – Luther called this anger God’s ‘alien work’. It is not what God delights in; rather, He delights in mercy and loving kindness. – 2 Cor.1:8-10; possibly referring to the riot in Ephesus in Acts 19 where he almost lost his life.
2. The sin of complacency. – 30:6-7; Prov.1:32; Deut.8:11-20. Spurgeon: ‘No temptation is so bad as tranquillity.’ – 30:7 means ‘As soon as God hid His face, I was dismayed and my seemingly impregnable mountain crumbled.’ The Great Persecution broke out in A.D. 303. Eusebius of Caesarea lamented that ‘by reason of excessive liberty, we sank into negligence and sloth, one envying and reviling another in different ways’. It is easily done! – Heb.12:11.
3. A chastened believer sings God’s praise. – 30:8-10. Temper Longman: ‘during much of the Old Testament period God’s people were not aware of the afterlife.’ Actually, David is simply saying that he wants to praise God before he dies. – 30:11-12; Grace is always amazing (John Newton). Notice the last word: ‘forever’.
Watch the service below.