Bible Commentaries
Psalms 30

Verses 1-12

Title.—(RV) ’A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House; a Psalm of David.’ There is no obvious connexion between the contents of this Ps. and its title. It is a thanksgiving for recovery from an illness which had threatened to be fatal, and in itself may very well have been written by David. But it is difficult to find in his life an occasion corresponding to the title, though the dedication of David’s own palace, or of the site of the Temple, has been suggested. It is more likely that the words, ’A Song at the Dedication of the House,’ were inserted into the title at a later time, when the Ps. was adopted for use at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, or of the second Temple, or at the re-dedication of the latter after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes (the origin of the Feast of Dedication mentioned in John 10:22. See Intro, to Daniel). The Ps. opens with praise for the writer’s restoration 1 (Psalms 30:1-5), tells next of his troubles and his prayer (Psalms 30:6-10), and concludes with another thanksgiving (Psalms 30:11-12).

1. Lifted.. up] RV ’raised up,’ from sickness.

3. The grave] RV ’Sheol,’ which, like the pit, means the state of the dead.

4. At the remembrance of his holiness] RV ’to his holy name.’ For ’remembrance’ or ’memorial’ in the sense of ’name’ see Psalms 9:6.

5. In his favour is life] better, ’his favour is for a lifetime,’ in contrast to ’his anger.. a moment.’

Endure for a night] RV ’tarry for the night’ as a passing stranger.

7. Hast made] RV ’hadst made,’ referring to the time of health and prosperity. My mountain] would be a figure for stability, but the reading is doubtful. Possibly it should be, ’hadst made me to stand upon strong mountains.’ Thou didst hide thy face] a sudden change of experience, by which the Psalmist was shaken out of his self-confidence, and taught his entire dependence on God. 9. This v. shows how little the future life counted for in ordinary OT. thought. The pit] see Psalms 30:3. The dust] is the dead body.

11. Sackcloth] the garb of sadness.

12. My glory] my soul.