Psalm 30:11-12 You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

I learned the KJV of these two verses set to music about 45 years ago, and the song still echoes happily in my heart. It is interesting that the forward to this Psalm says it was for the dedication of the temple. These verses certainly fit that, but some of the middle of the Psalm seems a bit odd in that context. We have trouble remembering that up until around 150 years ago, life expectancy was much shorter than it is today. There were of course exceptions, like Moses living to 120, not to mention the lifespans mentioned from before Noah, but the average person was doing well to make it to 40. The point is never how long we live, but what we do with however much time we are given. America’s Homeland Secretary was recently put down for commenting that we all die sometime, when that is one of the absolute truths of life! That is in no way to suggest that we are to hurry the process along, either for ourselves or for anyone else, but it is to say that realism is essential. Our time on earth is to give us the opportunity to choose God, to make Him Lord of our life so that when this life is over, we will spend eternity with Him. When we do that, the last line of this Psalm becomes real: “I will give thanks to Him forever.” We frankly don’t appreciate God’s blessings without at least tasting unpleasant things for the contrast. That’s why David talks about “turning mourning into dancing.” Without experiencing mourning, we don’t have sufficient reason to dance! That’s why repentance is essential for salvation. If we don’t understand that we are headed for hell, as the just result of our rebellion against God, we won’t have true appreciation of the salvation that is available through faith in Jesus Christ. These two verses are the honest testimony of all who have been born again by faith.

I was baptized at 7, having been raised in a home that was steeped in faith and love for God. I think that experience was real and valid, but it didn’t really register for me as it should have until much later, at 24, when the Lord showed me, just for an instant, the blackness of the pride in my heart. That was repentance indeed, and was so shattering that I asked for, and received, baptism a second time. And after that came baptism in the Holy Spirit, and for many years now I have had complete assurance of salvation and joy in fellowship with my Lord. That certainly doesn’t mean I’m perfect! I have to keep my repentance up to date, because I won’t be free of the presence of sin until I am with my Lord in heaven. That said, I am completely unconcerned about how much longer I have here, because as Paul said, what comes after is better! (Philippians 1:21-23) The task for me is to discern what God wants me doing right now, and do it with my whole heart. If I will do that, then my heart will keep dancing all the way into heaven!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Assorted things keep trying to drag me down, but You are far greater than all of that. Help me serve You every moment in every way, so that Your purposes for me may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!