When reading the psalms the imagery is very strong.  Psalm 30 seems to be talking about being cast down into the depths and then being lifted out by God.  The visuals that come to mind are a physical reality of finding ourselves in a tight spot.  The psalm can be personally applied by someone who is literally trapped in a physical locale and whom God rescues.

For most of us, we would go with the metaphysical translation.  We are sometimes in the depths emotionally.  God has humbled me recently by letting me experience powerlessness and hopelessness, but then as I have carried out the personal reforms (prayer, worship, sleep, and healthy eating) that I think he wants of me spiritually, I have been lifted up.  I felt myself slipping again yesterday, but a colleague listened patiently to me and expressed how she heard I was expressing an ‘external locus of control’.  This was a timely word from God, and so he lifted me up again before I could fall.

Psalm 30

 A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.^[b] Of David.

 ¹ I will exalt you, LORD,
   for you lifted me out of the depths
   and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
² LORD my God, I called to you for help,
   and you healed me.
³ You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
   you spared me from going down to the pit.

 ⁴ Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
   praise his holy name.
⁵ 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.

 ⁶ When I felt secure, I said,
   “I will never be shaken.”
⁷ LORD, when you favored me,
   you made my royal mountain^[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
   I was dismayed.

 ⁸ To you, LORD, I called;
   to the Lord I cried for mercy:
⁹ “What is gained if I am silenced,
   if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
   Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
¹⁰ Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
   LORD, be my help.”

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

Questions

1. What did God not allow to happen?
2. How was the psalmist when God his his face?
3. How were the psalmist’s actions transformed?
4. What enemies gloat over you physically and psychologically?
5. How could God turn your wailing into dancing?