Psalm Friday

Psalm 30

Jehovah-Rapha is His Name

My plan the night before was to get up before anyone else, take my shower, grab my Bible, journal, and iPod, then head down to the dock with the intended purpose of enjoying a beautiful, quiet, peaceful morning with the Lord on my first day of vacation. And, that is exactly what I did.

I situated myself on the towel, put the earphones in my ears, turned on some awesome praise and worship music, opened my Bible and began reading Psalm 30.

"1) I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my
foes rejoice over me. 2) O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
3) O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I
should not go down to the pit."

As I began reading I couldn't help but recall the pit the Lord has rescued me from- a pit that was deep and full of filth. Years before I had been literally over my head in selfish ambition, pride, jealousy, hate, bitterness, depression, and the like. My soul was dead. I was in desperate need of a new life; a new soul. There was nowhere for me to turn, nowhere for me to go, no one for me to turn to; no one, except the Lord. At this time in my life I came to know Him as Jehovah-Rapha, the Great Physician, the God who heals.

Jehovah-Rapha took my circumstances and my dead heart and literally breathed new life into my weary body. He brought me up from the grave of bitterness, hate, and depression I was in turning my mourning into dancing. He set my feet firmly making my mountain stand strong. The enemy no longer was able to look down upon me, now he was under foot as I danced all over his face with gladness and joy.

"4) Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the
remembrance of His holy name. 5) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is
for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Sitting on the dock that beautiful morning remembering how the Lord replaced my weeping with joy caused me to raise my hands in praise and thankfulness for His goodness and mercy over my life.

"11) You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have
put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12) To the end that my glory
may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to
You forever."

A wonderful picture is painted here enabling our eyes to see what the Lord does for us as He heals our hearts and takes from us those clothes of sadness and sorrow and replaces them with garments of joy and gladness.

I encourage you to prayerfully read through Psalm 30 today. As you meditate on this great Psalm praise Jehovah-Rapha for breathing new life into your dead soul. Praise Him for turning your mourning into dancing and for clothing you with garments of joy and gladness.