Psalm 30 - When I Need Joy in the Morning

Summer in the Psalms

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Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

I can't hear this verse in my head without the melody of a 90's praise and worship song behind it. I blame (okay, so blame is a strong word...) I owe this to my parents.

Perhaps you too are familiar with this verse. You've heard it or read it. Perhaps you didn't know it was in Psalm 30, but you've been encouraged by this scripture before.

This week, Luke Helms, a long-time friend of Will and I's and of ours here at The Good Day, is back again and sharing key insight from Revelation on this verse. I know I will never read or recall this verse the same way again, and I pray it means just as much to you.

And consider checking out his previous reflection on Psalm 99 here.

Luke lives in Oklahoma City, where he has found a wonderful community of believers at Crossings Community Church. He has an insatiable desire to learn and write about the interconnectedness and symbolism of the Bible. Luke enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling (nineteen countries and twenty-four states so far), and going to Thunder games. He serves as an attorney at a local law firm and serves as Chairman of the Board for Willow Pregnancy Support.

Life is a cycle of ups and downs, victories and defeats, rejoicing and mourning. For every baby shower we attend, a funeral will not be far behind. For every marriage we celebrate, we can expect to walk with a friend through their divorce. For every prayer we see answered, three seem to go unanswered. You get the idea.

Some of these cycles are rather tolerable. Others border close to unbearable. Either way, they are presently inescapable.

King David, the greatest earthly king in Israel’s history, understood this cycle well. After David was anointed as King of Israel, Saul tried to pin him against a wall with a spear (twice!). See 1 Samuel 18:10-11. After David took the throne and conquered Jerusalem, he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, murdered. See 2 Samuel 11. After David built a mighty kingdom for God (with His help) and passed the mantle onto his son, Solomon, Israel fractured due to Solomon worshipping the false gods of his many (“many” may be an understatement) wives. See 1 Kings 11-12.

Many of the 73 psalms that David wrote voice this feeling of the back-and-forth lurch of life. Psalm 30, full of poetic repetition and contrast, provides a typical example of David experiencing this cycle of suffering/rejoicing, loss/life, defeat/victory, etc. Although David is in “the depths”, the Lord lifts him out and does not let his enemies gloat over him. (v. 1). God has transformed David’s “wailing into dancing”. (v. 11). David is no longer clothed by sackcloth (typical wear during a period of mourning), but by joy. (v. 11). Yet, when David felt “secure”, he perceived that the Lord proceeded to hide His face. (vv. 6-7). After being “spared from going down to the pit”, David fears that he will be silenced and “go down to the pit”. (vv. 3 and 9).

In the middle of this psalm, however, we see a hidden glimpse of future freedom from life’s push and pull. Psalm 30:5 (NIV) reads:

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. - Psalm 30:5

The expanse of beauty and hope in this passage is hidden from view if one only imagines repeated anger to favor, weeping to rejoicing, and wailing to dancing. No, the complete hope is found in the end of the back and forth. We must not limit the scope of the “morning” King David depicts as reflecting mere daily repetition. While there is triumph in God’s daily deliverance, this “morning” is eternal, brought by the “everlasting to everlasting” God. Psalm 90:2.

In the closing words of Revelation, we see Jesus – the “Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” – welcome His people to a restored Eden, where there “will be no more night”. Revelation 22:4 and 16. It is in Jesus that we see the future of an endless morning. Therefore, may we look beyond the mornings that come to us through our windowsill and instead look to the Morning Star, who welcomes us to an eternity free from night, where favor is forever, rejoicing is never-ending, and dancing is always welcome (if not highly encouraged).

Now, It's Your Turn!

I challenge you to take a moment to pray, then read or listen to Psalm 30 today. Think about what stands out to you. Consider writing down a statement of faith. It may help to think of this as an I-statement. Maybe yours is similar to Luke's:

I will look beyond the mornings that come to me through my windowsill and instead look to the Morning Star, who welcomes me to an eternity.

Then, jot down a question to think about today. Maybe yours is similar to Luke's:

How can I more fully live in God's everlasting promise today?

May this reflection lead our hearts to gratitude and praise today and may we stand in victory against the tactics and schemes of the enemy.

And praise God for refreshment as we are intentional to spend a summer in the Psalms together, for if we want His truth to ever be on our lips, it must first be planted in our hearts.

Our strength grows as we rely on strength from above. Our joy grows as we see God transforming us from the inside out. Our peace grows as we spend time in God's presence, and we find rest when we intentionally seek the Lord first in our lives, for the Lord is ever our portion.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.