God’s Holiness and Majesty and the Blessedness of Answered Prayer.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 29-30

 

Psalm 30:11

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

(NKJV)

 

The Book of Psalms is the songbook of the Bible, containing emotional and heartfelt praise to God. The psalms of this test are psalms praising the holiness and majesty of God and the blessedness of answered prayer. David had many struggles and trials as the King of Israel but found comfort in praising God as his mourning turned to dancing. May we learn the power of praise when we experience struggles and trials in our lives.

 

Psalm 29 begins with David giving the Lord glory and strength that is due His name and worshipping the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:1-2). The voice of the Lord is over many waters with the God of glory thundering (Psalm 29:3). The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty (Psalm 29:4). The power of the voice of the Lord breaks and splinters the cedars of Lebanon, making Lebanon and Sirion skip like a young wild ox (Psalm 29:5-6). The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire and shakes the wilderness, even the wilderness of Kadesh (Psalm 29:7-8). The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forest bare, with everyone in His temple saying “Glory!” (Psalm 29:9). The Lord gives strength to His people and blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:10-11).

 

Psalm 30 begins with David extoling the Lord because He has lifted him up and not allowed his enemies to rejoice (Psalm 30:1). David cried out to the Lord and was healed, with the Lord bringing his soul up from the grave so he would not go down into the pit (Psalm 30:2-3). David tells the saints to sing praise to the Lord and to give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Psalm 30:4). The Lord’s anger is for only a moment with weeping enduring for a night, but the Lord’s favor is for life and joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

 

In his prosperity, David said he would not be moved, and by the Lord’s favor, his mountain stands strong with him troubled when the Lord hid his face (Psalm 30:6-7). David makes his plea and supplication to the Lord, for his blood has no profit if he goes down to the pit, for the dust cannot praise the Lord or declare His truth (Psalm 30:8-9). David pleads for the Lord to have mercy on him and to be his helper (Psalm 30:10). The Lord has turned David’s mourning into dancing and removed his sackcloth and clothed him with gladness (Psalm 30:11). To his end, David will sing praise to the Lord and not be silent, giving thanks to the Lord forever (Psalm 30:12).

 

David was a great King of Israel despite his faults with the Lord calling him a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:14). In Psalm 29, David praises the holiness and majesty of God. David, as a man after God’s own heart, knows that all holiness, majesty, and power belong to God, which is why his heart praises the Lord. May we all follow David’s example of praise and worship to God.

 

In Psalm 30, David praises the blessedness of answered prayer. David’s praise of the holiness and majesty of the Lord has enabled him to cry out to the Lord and receive healing (Psalm 30:2). David’s mourning has turned into dancing, as he removes his sackcloth and puts on the garments of gladness. Oh, the power of praise offered to the Lord. May none of us professing our belief in Jesus as our savior downplay the power of praise and thanksgiving to God, looking to David as a model worship leader with a heart of praise to God.

 

While it is great to have talented musicians and singers leading the congregation in worship in our churches, we must remember they are not performers but worship leaders. In the church I attend, the lyrics to the songs are up on the screen, not for the benefit of the worship leaders on the stage, but for the congregation to join them in praising the Lord. Even if we cannot carry a tune, the Lord wants to hear our praises offered up to Him, reminding us to make a joyful noise unto Him (Psalm 100:1-2). You can also speak the words of the song outload, thinking about what they mean, It is also not wrong to raise your hands in surrender to the Lord who has our best in mind (Jeremiah 29:11). In these psalms we see why David was a man after God’s own heart who had no problem with offering praise to God, knowing God heard and answered his prayers.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed, confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I invite you to do so now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Your sins are now forgiven, and Jesus is your Lord and Savior. I invite you to find a local church that teaches the truth from the Bible, the word of God, so your new relationship with God can flourish. May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post.