Psalm 30

Psalm 30 (NRSV)
8 To you, O Lord, I cried,
and to the Lord I made supplication:
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?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
12 so that my soulb may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
[1]

Lord,
I love the way that the poet negotiates with you, or thinks that he is negotiating. To paraphrase; “Look Lord, what good am I to you if I am dead?” Did he think that you would be worse off without him?
Perhaps he really did believe that you needed him.
Perhaps you did need him.

In what way do you need us? In what way do you need me? It’s clear that there are some things that you won’t do without us. You don’t build bridges over rivers and you don’t build power grids to light the cities. You don’t hold babies in warm physical arms and you certainly use your people to tell your story. It appears that in some real ways, you do need us to fulfill your intention for your world. Perhaps it not too bold to say that, in some way, you need me to fulfill that part of your purpose that you have entrusted into my keeping.

Emotionally it’s nearly paradoxical to say that you need me. It’s a direct highway to arrogance – the Lord needs me! And it is a driver to deep humility, that you would entrust a part of your purpose to me.

I suppose that I should remember that you needed the ancient poet for only a very short time. He left the stage thousands of years ago. And so it will be with me. That is a very humbling thought.

The poet negotiates and then the poet is made whole and the poet gives you the credit and praise. He brings his hymn to a crescendo of praise and thanksgiving. What a great way to live! He was neither too proud to ask nor was he too proud to say “thank you”. Let it be so with me.

PERSONAL PRAYERS
Speak candidly to God about your deepest need and perhaps even to negotiate a little.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.


b Heb that glory

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989