The background of Psalm 30, written by King David, was his numbering of Israel. 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 mention the event. God offered David his choice of punishments: three years of famine, three months of war with Israel’s enemies, or three days of pestilence. David chose pestilence. About 70,000 people died in three days.
David himself was sick unto death and he prayed to God about it, like an argument for his continuing to live (Psalm 30:8-10).
I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.
God wasn’t going to kill David with disease, but David didn’t know that. While 70,000 of his people were dying because of what he did, he thought he would too, so he made his case. What would a good case be to make to God in order to live? What purpose would impress God that your life is worth living? David says two related purposes in verse 9.
What David did that made his living superior to dying was, one, praising the Lord, and, two, declaring the truth of the Lord. Could the opposite argument be made? If someone does not praise the Lord and declare the truth of the Lord, does he have an argument before God for living?
David believed his life would matter if He praised God and declared God’s truth, which is His Word. Any one of us could argue about lives mattering, but David didn’t see his own life mattering unless he did those two things. When you think about lives mattering, what do you think makes them matter? Are you even thinking right about life and why it matters?
The Lord doesn’t accept all praise. If you regard iniquity in your heart, He doesn’t hear your praise (Psalm 66:18). It must be acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1). He is holy. Praise is about Him being praised, not making you feel good, because your “praise song” “rocks.” God is praised through reverence and solemnity. They are required for His offerings.
Declaring the Lord’s truth is declaring all of what God says in His Word. That’s trickier to evangelicals. Praise has become easier to hoodwink. People won’t want to hear the truth, so declaring all of it won’t make you popular. It’s why God wants us here though.
On Sunday, David taught Psalm 30. He taught about why David’s life would matter, except he didn’t know he was sick like David in the Bible. David Sutton, the other pastor at our church, started feeling dizzy about 2/3 of the way into his lesson. He started a migraine. He went out the side door to lie down in the office. The emergency room said his brain was bleeding. An ambulance took him to Redwood City, and the next morning did a cerebral angiogram and found a small leak on his brain stem. The doctor said they thought he would make a full recovery. He would need to stay in the hospital though for ten days or more.
David Sutton’s life matters to God. We are hoping for a speedy and strong recovery. We’re rejoicing in his life.
You should ask yourself about your own life. Could you make the same argument for why you should live?
Dear Pastor Brandenburg,
We pray for blessing and wisdom and protection for you and brother Sutton.
Thank you for the "What is Truth", it is a blessing to have these articles.
God bless you all.
IN CHRIST
Amir Orome
Freedom Baptist Church
Salt Lake City – UT
Thanks Amir. Your comment is a blessing and encouragement.
I am sorry to hear about Pastor Sutton. We will pray for him. Glad to hear that the doctor said he would make a full recovery. Great truths about praising God and declaring His truth. Our lives is but a vapor, indeed. Let's certainly make it count for the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer.
Thanks Bill.
Report to everyone. Pastor Sutton is doing better. He's not in ICU. They say there is no leak any longer. They say he'll likely get out of the hospital next Tues or Wed. He will be in bad pain for 3 weeks. Recovery is long for this, they say.
Thank you for the update. Praise the Lord he is out of the ICU!
Pastor Sutton had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Many patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage do not survive long enough to reach a hospital. Of those who do, the prognosis depends upon the severity of the initial brain damage. 1/3 die. 1/3 have permanent disability. 1/3 will make full recovery. He is in the last category.
Wow, I am so thankful he is in that last category.