Day 12: Psalm 30:1-5

I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.

Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

As we read through the story of the people of God recorded in the Old Testament, we see the truth of what David mentions in this psalm: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.”

God occasionally expressed his anger to the people of Israel. He grew weary of their repeated betrayals, wanderings, and disobedience. At times, it seemed he wanted to just start all over – see Exodus 32, for example. Based on our reading of scripture, it is safe to say that God is sometimes angry. But God is the ultimate promise keeper. God has entered into covenant with his people, and although his people do not always uphold their end of the covenant, God is faithful to his part.

I love my two sons. I love them more than I can describe to you. Yet, there are times when they make me angry. We have moments, like every family, when things are not always at peace. But my anger for my sons does not cancel out my love. It does not overshadow my love. It does not even temporarily replace my love. My love for my sons will last a lifetime – nothing they can do will change that.

If this is true of my relationship with my children, how much more is it true of our Father in heaven?

Brad Taylor | Executive Pastor