Thursday 19 January, 2017

1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. 3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. 4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. 5 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. 6 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” 7 Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8 To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.” 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

David has been saved from death and here he praises God. He looks at his past troubles and he declares that they are fleeting. That God has turned mourning to dancing, and sorrow to joy. That dancing and joy will be his everlasting experience.

I love verse 5, that reminds me what God is like;

God’ s anger last’s for a moment, his favour for a lifetime,

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

C.S Lewis says in his book Surprised by Joy

“The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of man and our liberation is his compulsion.”

God sent Jesus to liberate us. In Isaiah 61 the prophet uses very similar imagery to describe what Christ will do for his people. He will turn our ashes to beauty, our mourning to joy, and our despair to praise. We will become oaks of righteousness.

Thank you God that you have liberated me and set me free through Jesus. Thank you that I have your favour and your joy. Thank you that the troubles I face are fleeting in the light of your everlasting hope and joy. May I lift my eyes to you , and keep my eyes set on you, as you are my help, my liberator and the giver of joy. Amen

Written by Zoe Stewart