Drawn Up

“I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

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.

As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    ‘I shall never be moved.’
By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my mountain stand strong…

 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.” Psalm 30:1-7a,11-12

David’s mention of being drawn up is a vivid picture of the help of God. Surrounded by foes, consumed with depression and fear, nagged by seen and unseen battles all around, he proclaims that God has drawn him up. Up out of doubt to certainty, up out of anguish to the place of healing, up out of brokenness to restoration, up out of despair to hope. His response is praise, his acknowledgment that with weeping in the dark is the promise of joy in the morning. All these troubles are temporary when taken up to the Lord God who hears and helps.

Drawn up, we’re able to sense closeness to the God of heaven. Drawn up, we make distance between ourselves and worldly pressures and troubles. Drawn up, we gain broader perspective on the harsh and hustle of daily life. Drawn up, we catch fresh breath of holy air. The place of need and sorrow is real, but from above we can shed the sackcloth and begin to sing.

Are we disturbed by foes and negative speak? What problems snarl and keep us awake? What cares trip up our feet and keep us unsteady? What news glooms our hearts and sets us fretting? Seeking the Lord’s favor and claiming His help, we can stand strong. (Psalm 112:6-8; Philippians 4:6-8)

“I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho’ some may dwell where these abound,
My pray’r, my aim is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land;
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” ~Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1898)

Father, draw me up in deeper faith and higher joy, to Your honor and praise.