“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Ps 30:11-12 AV)
Some use these words for times of great loss. One can see how they would apply at the death of a loved one. But the context of this psalm is the first time David set the tabernacle on the temple mount and brought the ark of the covenant to rest within it. This is the first time in centuries the ark of the covenant rested in the tabernacle and it is the first time it rested in its semi-permanent place. His son, Solomon, would erect the first Temple and the ark would rest within it for centuries. In short, the mourning David experienced was not due to the loss of a loved one, but rather, all the trials of life that led to this one culmination of his deepest desire and calling. He loved the LORD. He worshipped faithfully. Most of his life, however, was spent on the run or fighting the enemies of Israel. He faithfully did as the LORD asked. He faced down every foe. He made God real to a nation who needed to see God again. But the one desire he wished for the most was to erect a temple for the glory of God. He planned. He prepared. He compiled the materials for the building of the temple. God came to him and told him it would be Solomon who would put it all together. But it was David who gathered the materials, milled them, and stored them for Solomon. When the Ark finally came to the Tabernacle for the first time upon the holy mount, David knew all the struggles of life were worth it. Finally, he realized his calling. Finally, his life meant what he dreamed of. This is why mourning was turned to dancing. God used all his troubles for His glory. That was all David wanted.
It is interesting how the LORD puts on our heart a life goal that oft times, we do not realize until we get there. David wanted one thing. The LORD told him it was good that he wanted it. The LORD never corrected David for wanting something that would not be his. The passion and desire were passed down. So, in a way, David did affect his dream. It was realized by Solomon. Had David never dreamed that dream, someone more capable would not have accomplished it. So, dreaming a dream that is not ours to fulfill may not be a bad thing. Having said that, rejoicing in what God does do with you is just as important. David may not have erected the temple. He may not have put it all together and had that great day of dedication. It may not have been David who was revered before his people for the great monument to God’s glory that was Solomon’s to build. But what did bring adoration and honor from his people was David’s love for God and willingness to fulfill God’s will for his life. It may not have included what he dreamed of, but it was all of what God asked. This was the joy that he experienced. Knowing he had done what God asked of him was his joy.
It is important not to sell ourselves short. What I mean by that is we may have expectations which God never placed on us. Perhaps it is someone else’s job to do what we once dreamed of. What we must do is rejoice when the culmination of all our efforts comes to maturity. Compared to the temple, bringing the Ark to the Temple Mount and placing it in a centuries-old tent may not have seemed as special. But David treated it as such. There was a tremendous celebration at the coming of the ark to Jerusalem and the Mount. In fact, Psalm thirty may refer to the dancing David did before the LORD which Michal took offense at. David did not allow his unrealized dreams to diminish what God did through him. As far as he was concerned, all the blood, sweat, and tears he shed for the last forty years or so paid off. He paid a heavy price to get there. But get there he did. Never underestimate what God did with you. It may not have been your ultimate dream, but it was what God wanted. Praise be to God!
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