Remember What the Holy One Has Done

Psalm 30

I. Praise the Savior

A. At the dedication of his palace, the shepherd boy who had become king of God’s people gave the glory to the Savior [nb Lord] for what had taken place. “A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.” (Psalm 30:1)

B. The Savior had heard David’s prayer. “O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” (Psalm 30:2)

C. David professed that only the Savior had kept him out of hell; David is a marvelous exemplar of grace. “O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” (Psalm 30:3)

D. Only grace stands between sinners and eternity in hell. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3)

E. Reflection on grace and its necessity in the sinner’s life should move a believer to songs of thanksgiving to the Savior; the utterly sinless Jesus went to the cross to save His people. “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” (Psalm 30:4)

F. Believers deal with hard times, sorrows, and grief by reflecting on the eternal joy which comes to them through grace. “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

G. Jesus paid for redemption on the cross and now eternity opens for His people. “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;” (Psalm 103:17)

II. Experience Teaches Believers

A. God providentially broke David’s self-confidence; life’s shadows educate. “And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.” (Psalm 30:6-7)

B. If David had to beg the Savior for help, it should not surprise anyone that life can be too difficult to handle apart from grace. “I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.” (Psalm 30:8)

C. God has something better in mind for His people than cessation of sin and pain; appealing to God simultaneously comforts a believer. “What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?” (Psalm 30:9) Prayer is better comfort than any worldly distraction.

D. The grave isn’t life’s purpose; man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever. “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.” (Psalm 40:10)

E. Believers know better than to rely on themselves; the Savior hears His people. “Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.” (Psalm 30:10) “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Have I been in sin long sleeping,
Long been slighting, grieving Thee?
Has the world my heart been keeping?
O forgive and rescue me;
Even me, even me,
O forgive and rescue me.

[Even Me by Eliz­a­beth H. Cod­ner]

III. Testify

A. David exemplified the pattern when he gave God the glory. “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;” (Psalm 30:11)

B. Let the heathen know what God has done; testimonies are part of going to God’s house. “A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:1-2)

C. As believers glorify Jesus before the watching world, they become what they were designed to be. “To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Psalm 30:12)

Sing with me then, ye favored men,

Who long have known His grace;

With thanks recall the season when

Ye also sought His face.

[Spurgeon’s Paraphrase]