Don’t know exactly how sick David was, but it must have been pretty bad–his enemies were getting ready to throw a party. What they had been unable to do with blatant force, it now appeared would happen because of a bad fever . . . or whatever it was that had David feeling as though he was nearing death.

And so, David prayed. He cried to heaven and he pleaded for mercy.

And God healed. Bringing David’s soul up from Sheol and restoring his life from the pit.

And David rejoiced. His mourning turned into dancing. The sackcloth of sorrow was replaced with garments of gladness.

And so he would sing. But not alone. Not content to do a solo, he writes a song to invoke a choir. And in that song words of comfort and hope that resonate throughout the ages. For in that song, there is the promise of the morning.

Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints,
   and give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
   and His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning.

(Psalm 30:4-5 ESV)

As David asked the why question, all he could land on was that God was angry. Perhaps because he knew of unrepentant sin in his life, or maybe because he had no other hook to hang his sickness on. Hadn’t read of Job who was chosen to suffer so that God might demonstrate that those who fear Him will bless Him, even when He takes away from them (Job 1:21). Wouldn’t have known about a blind man to be born far in the future who was afflicted not because of his sin or the sin of his parents, but solely that “the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9). Or of a beat-up, converted rabbi who endured a perpetual thorn in the flesh in order to testify to generations after him that God’s grace is sufficient and that His power is made perfect in weakness (2Cor. 12:9).

Whatever David attributed his near death illness to, he never wavered from believing that God’s anger was momentary, but that God’s favor was for a lifetime. And so he prayed. And so God answered. And so David sang. And gave us a promise. A promise of the morning.

Weeping may tarry for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning.

And as I chew on the promise, I think about the morning. When the shadow of night gives way to the fullness of day. When the malady which besets the soul is healed. When the back that his bent over because of the burden is raised up. When tears are forever dried up “and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

And the promise of the morning is enough.

So let the choir sing!

. . . that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.
   O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever!

(Psalm 30:12 ESV)

Because of Your unfailing grace. For Your unfading glory.

Amen?