Forever

 Today we start worship with:

Psalm 30:5

For his anger is but for a moment,

    and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

    but joy comes with the morning.

This psalm was chosen to be sung at the dedication of the temple. It is important. It spans the emotional spectrum from God’s anger to His favor, and from David’s mourning to his dancing.  It is the retelling of what appears to be David’s Job-moment (Job 19:21-27).

David had mistakenly said:

Psalm 30:6-7

As for me, I said in my prosperity,

    “I shall never be moved.”

By your favor, O Lord,

    you made my mountain stand strong;

you hid your face;

    I was dismayed.

When David declared himself immovable, God temporarily removed His favor.  In losing that favor, David came to understand his mortality, and the problem that it causes.

Psalm 30:9

“What profit is there in my death,

    if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise you?

   Will it tell of your faithfulness?

But then he came to understand the certainty of his resurrection, because God’s glory demands his eternal praise.

Psalm 30:12

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever