Psalm 30

Authorship

This Psalm was authored by David.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. Thanksgiving (1-4). The psalmist praises the Lord and gives thanks to Him because:

A. He has lifted him up.

B. He has not allowed his foes to rejoice over him.

C. He healed him when he cried to Him.

D. He brought up his soul from the grave and kept him alive so he would not go down to the pit.

II. Transition (5 and 11). The psalmist has made a transition from:

A. Anger to favor.

B. Weeping in the night to joy in the morning.

C. Mourning to dancing.

D. Sackcloth to being girded with gladness.

III. Testimony. (6-12)

A. In his prosperity, the psalmist thought he would never be moved, but God hid his face and he was troubled.

B. The psalmist cried to the Lord and made supplication to Him, asking:

1. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit?

2. Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare Thy truth?

3. Hear me, have mercy on me, be my helper.

C. The purpose of this trial was that:

1. The psalmist would sing praise to God and not be silent.

2. That he might give thanks to God forever.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 30,8(7) לְהַרְרִי {B} MT, εβρ, α', ε', ς', Hebr / / err-voc: T clav לְהַרְרֵי / midr: σ' להרי / err-graph: G, S clav להדרי

Ps 30,13(12) כָבוֹד {B} MT, εβρ, α', σ', ε', Hebr, S // paraphr: T / assim-par: G clav כבודי