Dancing in Sackcloth
Psalm 30
Perhaps the most universal reason we pray is for God to heal us when we are sick or for God to spare the life of someone we love. How should we pray in moments like this?
In Psalm 30, David cries out to the Lord to not let him die (9). What profit is there in my death? Will the dust praise You? But that prayer is wrapped up into a much larger moment of worship.
This song was written to be sung at the dedication of the “temple.” The word bayit literally means “house,” and could refer to anything from the palace (see the NIV footnote) to Solomon’s temple or even the temple rebuilt after the exile. For new covenant believers, the “house” has even more possibilities. We are the temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6.19). The gathered church is a building where God dwells by His Spirit (see Ephesians 2.22). And we are all awaiting the eternal dwelling of God (see Revelation 21.3). All that to say, we sing this song in good standing.
As David prays for healing and for God to spare his life, and as we make the same requests, let us follow the conversation David has with the Lord.
David begins by extolling the Lord (1) and giving thanks to God for healing him in the past (2). David remembers how the Lord brought him up from Sheol and restored his life (3), recalling some moment in the past. This is why David sings praises to His name and gives thanks (4).
Praying for healing begins by praising the beauty and greatness of God and giving thanks for His healing grace in the past.
The song then takes a strange twist. David acknowledges the anger of the Lord but rejoices that it only lasts for a moment. Weeping only lasts for the night, but joy comes in the morning (5). Why does David bring up the anger of the Lord when praying for healing?
When we draw near to a holy God, there is always a sense that we are asking for mercy that we don’t deserve. We are sinners who deserve the just wrath of God, but we plead for mercy. As new covenant believers, we rejoice that the anger of God has been satisfied by the death of Christ on the cross for our sins. The wrath of God has been satisfied. Joy has come in the morning, on resurrection morning.
As David continues the prayer, he knows that his prosperity (6), also translated as security or ease, is rooted in God’s favor (7). It is by God’s favor that his mountain stands strong (7). Our prayers for healing are rooted in God’s favor. If He hides His face from us, we are dismayed, terrified (7). This is why we cry to the Lord and plead for mercy (8).
At this point, David tries to make sense of his illness and impending death (9). What profit is there in my death? Will the dust praise You? Are the dead able to tell of Your faithfulness? Who has never struggled with making sense of an illness? Why is this happening to me? This doesn’t make sense.
As new covenant believers, we can add depth to this part of David’s prayer. Through Christ, death is not the end of our praise nor our worship. In fact, when we lay this mortal body down, our worship raises to a whole new level. We join the great cloud of witnesses who bear eternal witness to the faithfulness of God. As we pray for healing in this mortal body, we know that the ultimate answer to our prayers lies in the resurrected body. How can this not impact how we pray and make sense of life?
Returning to the prayer, David asks for mercy, for God to be his helper (10). But that request is quickly swallowed up by thanksgiving. You have turned my mourning into dancing (11). You have clothed me with gladness (11). Even as I ask for more mercy, I know that I am already drowning in Your mercy.
What is the purpose of all this mercy? That my glory may sing Your praises (12). And these songs will echo for eternity, for I will give thanks to You forever (12).
How does this psalm help us pray for healing?
We should notice that David’s prayer for healing almost gets lost amidst all the praise and thanksgiving. We are standing on a huge pile of God’s grace and asking for more. It is almost impossible to ask for God’s healing grace without getting lost in thanksgiving for the manifold grace already given.
We should notice that David’s life goal is to sing praise and give thanks, both in this life and for life eternal. The apostle Paul knew that God can be glorified both in our life and in our death (see Philippians 1.20). In Christ, we know there might be profit in our death, for to live is Christ and to die is gain. Sickness and death will not put an end to our praises. In fact, we graduate from mortal praise to eternal praise.
We should notice that David unashamedly asked for God’s mercy and help, to heal him once again. While praise and thanksgiving gets top billing, we should approach the throne with confidence and ask for grace to help in time of need. The Lord can heal, as David knew (2), so plead for mercy.
Finally, we should notice that our ultimate healing is possible because the anger of God has been satisfied through the cross. Resurrection joy came in the morning, and that eternal joy and healing will be the answer to our prayers.
Lord, may You be honored in my life or in my death. May my glory sing Your praise and not be silent.