Let us turn our attention again
this week to Psalm 30:4-5, which says,
“Sing
unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the
remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in
His favor is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in
the morning.”
If you recall from last week’s study, David has numbered the people
and because of pride he has been struck with a national plague.
When the darkness
lifts David invites the people of God to join him in singing. There
is nothing like congregational singing and the singing of a spirit
filled choir. In my travels the special singing doesn’t strike a
cord like the singing of a united group. Here David doesn’t call on
just anyone who wants to sing, but he says, “O ye saints of His,”
The word ‘saints’ speaks of the set apart or holy ones. The
phrase ‘of His’ speaks of ones personal possession. There
are ones who are actively involved in being set apart and unto our
Lord. It is this group and this group alone who have a song in
their heart. Paul tells us in Ephesians Chapter 5 that the marks of
the Spirit filled believer is that he will sing making melody in his
heart unto the Lord. One who has a song doesn’t mean necessarily
that they are a singer. You may not be able to carry a tune in a
bucket but have a song in your heart. I have seen many that have
beautiful voices and hit all the right notes but you see none of the
juice of the Holy Spirit evident in their singing.
David in verse 4
gives the subject matter of our singing. They should be songs of
thanks. Songs that are full of gratefulness are a pleasing exercise
and profitable engagement. The singing of God’s Word is the highest
form of meditation. It fixes the Word more firmly in the heart than
just reading from it does.
We are also told
what we are to give thanks for. David said to give thanks at the ‘remembrance
of holiness’. We often have no present things to sing about,
but let us call to remembrance from the past the things that God has
done for us. We are pointed here to his ‘holiness’. The
word speaks of the chastening work of God. Let us sing about the
times in the past when God has sent situations that have caused us
to draw nigh to Him with a new zeal.
Let us be reminded
from verse 5, ‘His anger is but for a moment’. In our Lord’s
chastening work of His children it lasts but a brief time and it is
over. May we lift our hearts and sing unto the Lord. We are told,
‘in His favor is life’. The word ‘favor’ speaks of
His face or smile of approval. Oh, how knowing our God is pleased
with us gives life, the ‘Zoe’ type of abundant life of great
zeal.
The word ‘weeping’
in verse 5 speaks of mourning that accompanies heartache and
sorrow. There for the child of God endures but for a night. God
never made a night that He didn’t attach to it a morning. You that
are in the dark hour of the soul take comfort ‘The Son’ will
shine again. When He arrives there will be joy unspeakable and full
of glory. If there is no joy here we are headed to a country of
endless joy. Laugh every chance you get because there will be
plenty of opportunities in this life for weeping.
The songwriter said
this on the subject of singing:
There’s within
my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low, ‘Fear not I am with
thee, peace be still’, In all of life’s ebb and flow. Tho’
sometimes He leads through waters deep, Trials fall across the way.
Tho’ sometimes the path seems rough and steep, See His footprints
all the way.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know. Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
