Psalm 30 says: “O Lord, you turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”
It has been said that the hardest math to master is the one that enables us to count our blessings. In fact, we are so blessed in this country that it is easy for us to take it for granted. For example: If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 per cent of the people living in the world. If you have money in the bank, a bit in your wallet, and maybe some spare change under the cushions of your sofa, then you are among the top eight per cent of the world’s wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, then you are more blessed than the million people who won’t survive this week. This entire Psalm 30 is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God.
But we aren't always thankful. Most people who are in good health and prosperous never really believe they will die, or that their health and wealth could dry up one day. Except when the situation changes, as it inevitably will; when calamity strikes, when the doctor makes a diagnosis that will change your life, what then? One minute you are the person in the $30,000 car, the next you’re the guy with the “I'm hungry” sign.
Well, know that it is not God’s will that we suffer and die; God wants us to live. Suffering is a result of our rebellion against God. And so, when sickness or tragedy shatters our illusions, it is then that we need to humbly turn to our Father in heaven for help.
David says in verse 8, “To you O Lord I called, to the Lord I cried for mercy.” And God's promise to us In Christ is that when we call upon Him in repentance and faith, He will give us the grace and mercy we need.
And what joy there is when we realize that we have been rescued, saved from certain death.
David writes in verse 12 of this Psalm, “You turned my mourning into dancing. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”
God has given us many things to be grateful for…but the greatest by far is the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus came to rescue us from the pit of separation…He is our lifeline.
If you are in that place of separation from God this morning, then cry out to God, “Hear me O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help.”
And no matter what your situation is, He will. And as a result you will be able to rejoice in what really matters…in your eternal salvation. Only faith in Jesus Christ can turn your mourning into dancing: only He can remove your sackcloth and clothe you with joy; only He can cause your heart to sing to God, “O lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”
Amen.
