I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. Psalm 30:1 (ESV)
When I was growing up my grandparents had an old well. In the summer we would lower a bucket into the well by using a crank that was attached to the opening. The water we drew out of that old well was some of the coldest water you could find anywhere. I remember how refreshing and thirst quenching that water felt after a few hours of playing in the yard. King David felt that same refreshing when God delivered him from his enemies and he gave praise to God. David realized that it was God who did not let his foes rejoice over him.
David had literal flesh and blood enemies, however our enemies are not. We wrestle with spiritual forces in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Since our enemies are spiritual in nature God has given us spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:14-18). Our enemies include our sin nature, death and Satan. Like David we have cause to extol God because he has not given us over to the will of our enemies. Sin, death and Satan are not enemies who will be able to rejoice over us because God has drawn us up; delivered us. Through Christ, God as given us victory over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19)
At our conversion God conquered our sin nature by making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God continues to give us victory over sin. The writer of Hebrews said, No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV) Though our sin would have led us to death, in the new birth we have been given eternal life in Christ (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:5). We can say with Paul, O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 ESV) Satan, though he prowls to seek destruction, is in reality a defeated enemy (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10). Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan and will one day return and destroy him for good (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:10).
The word extol in Psalm 30:1 means to rise or raise. How do we make God higher than he is? He is already the highest entity in the universe. We give testimony to his greatness with our words as we praise him and declare his works to others (Psalm 71:15; 105:2). We also portray his greatness by our works as we allow our light to shine before others (Matthew 5:16).
This Psalm was used for the dedication of the temple. As believers we are now the temples of God (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Because God has “drawn us up” we should use our temples to extol God with our words and our works.
Does your life give testimony to the greatness of God?
Scriptures for meditation:
Psalm 9:11; 40:5
Romans 6:16-18; 8:28-31