I Will Never Be Shaken

When I felt secure, I said, 'I will never be shaken.' Lord, when You favoured me, You made my royal mountain stand firm; but when You hid your face, I was dismayed.

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

Psalm 30

Psalm 16

The Danger of Self-Confidence

Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude. - M. Obama

At a time when self-confidence is widely seen as the key to success, we may find ourselves increasingly drawn into relying on our own effort and ability, rather than on God. After all, hard work, determination, and perseverance are qualities that God both blesses and expects of us.

Still, Scripture reminds us that, despite our best efforts, both success and failure ultimately rest in God's hands:

He raises the poor from the dust ... He seats them with princes. Ps. 113:7-8a

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for He grants sleep to those He loves. Ps. 127:2

I Will Never Be Shaken

Psalm 30 is believed to have been written for the dedication of David's palace, 'for such dedications were performed in a very solemn manner, with prayers and praises to God.'- J.F.Brown

Within it, David recognised a moment in his life when, in a time of prosperity, his heart became self-confident and proud. He felt secure, accomplished and confident about the future: 

Now in my prosperity I said, 'I shall never be moved. Ps.30:6

David was essentially saying in his heart, 'I shall not be moved forever.'

Prosperity gave him a false sense of security. Forgetting his dependence on God, David was not watchful over his own heart: 'Instead of confiding in the Giver, he trusted in the gift, as though it had been his own work.' - Keil and Delitzsch

When God had settled him quietly on the throne, David thought his troubles were over and that he would enjoy uninterrupted happiness. [...] There is an allusion to Mt. Zion—the fortress he had recently taken—which was properly 'his mountain,' as he had established his dwelling there and built his royal palace. All this he regarded as the effect of God's favour and promised himself that his peace and happiness, in the future, would be as undisturbed and unshaken as Mt. Zion itself. - Benson

Displeased with his presumption and pride, God withdrew His favour, protection, and help—and David was troubled. Though it's impossible to say exactly which events David refers to here, he clearly felt God 'withdrawing the light of His countenance, and showing that He was displeased with him'. - Brown

The Hebrew word implies that David was terrified. He was deeply troubled by the loss of God's presence.

If God hides His face, a good man is troubled, though no other calamity befall him. - M. Henry

We so easily forget that life is brief, fragile and temporary.

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

In the blink of an eye wealth disappears. Proverbs 23:5

But it is losing God's presence in our lives—and His favour upon us—that should trouble us most.

Still, David did not remain in that place. He humbled himself, cried out to God for mercy, and God was merciful to him:

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime. Ps.30:5

At the dedication of his house—where one might have been tempted to celebrate personal achievement—David gave all the merit and glory to God, acknowledging that his prosperity and security came by God's hand alone.

I will extol You, O Lord—I will praise You enthusiastically. Ps.30:1

Lord, when You favoured me, You made my royal mountain stand firm. Ps.30:6-7

Lord my God, I will praise You forever. Ps.30:12

David had learned humility.

Humility eliminates the anxiety that comes with the constant need to strive for greater recognition, position, and power. - D. Jeremiah

And David had also learned dependence.

The prideful presumption of his self-confident heart was replaced by the humble dependence of a contrite heart.

Learning to Depend on God

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Ps. 16:8

The book of Psalms is not arranged chronologically, and it is believed that Psalm16 was written at a later date than Psalm 30. The tone of the psalm is confident—but not confidence in oneself. Rather, it reflects dependence and absolute reliance on God:

Keep me safe, my God, for in You I take refuge. [...] Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure. [...] I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. - Ps.16

Do we share David's confidence?

Do we desire more of God—or more than God?

Do we live continually in His Presence?

Is God always before us—our refuge, our Counselor, our inheritance?

Then We Shall Not Be Moved ...

'Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.' The prelude to the assertion makes all the difference. This is the warranted confidence of simple faith. The one who clasps God's hand, and has Him standing by his side, as Ally, Companion, Guide, and Defense—such a person need not fear change.

We may be confident in our power to resist anything that can come against us if He is at our side. Outward things may come or go, as it pleases Him, but that which is the life of our life will never depart from us as long as He stands there. Trust not in the uncertainty of outward good, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. - MacLaren's Expositions