Psalm 30: From a Dirge to a Dance

READING THE BOOK OF PSALMS

PART XXIII

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Psalm 30

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Superscriptions in the Book of Psalms are not always accurate.  Aside from the tradition of writing a text then attributing it to a famous dead person–David, for example–some superscriptions are obviously inaccurate.  Consider Psalm 30, O reader:

A psalm of David.  A song for the dedication of the House.

“The house” is the (First) Temple, constructed after David’s death and dedicated by Solomon.

Yet I have more important matters about which to write.

Recall the Hebrew concept of Sheol, O reader:  The dead, in the underworld, could not praise God.  Living people could praise God, however.

The psalmist had been seriously ill; death had seemed probable.  Yet he recovered then praised God.  Between the beginning and the end of the psalm, the psalmist made some important points:

1. Divine judgment and mercy exist in balance.  Divine anger passes quickly–“but a moment.”
2. Spiritual complacency comes easily during good times.  Times of difficulty can be occasions for spiritual growth if one does not turn away from God.
3. Divine judgment is frequently an opportunity for repentance.

The caveat on all this is that Psalm 30 has a human filter.  We read the psalmist’s perceptions, filtered through a theological and cultural context.  We mere mortals have human filters for everything; we cannot change that.  The reality of God exceeds our abilities to perceive God.  None of this means that many human perceptions of God are correct, of course.  They are all partial, however.

As for me, I thought in my quiet days,

“Never will I stumble.”

–Psalm 30:7, Robert Alter

I resemble that remark.  Perhaps you, O reader, resemble it, too.

I also attest that God has turned my dirge into a dance.  I await a repeat performance.  Until then, I am not going anywhere.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

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