The things of this Psalm are of continual interest. They do not belong to any one time or any one type of experience. Some of the notes in it are suitable to home and family, and individuals through all the years of their history. Eminently so is this fifth verse, which tells us of the bitter and the sweet, the dark and the light, which run, in various distribution, along human lives.
I. The underlying doctrine of the text is the great doctrine or fact that "God is love," that love runs through all, rules over all, explains all. The literal translation is this: "For in His anger is but a moment. In His favour is life. In the evening weeping may come in to pass the night, but with the morning there is a shout of joy."
II. Here, however, it may be objected that all this does not give us much help for our dark times, because it only speaks of the rapid and constant changes which come as life goes on. This, we know, it may be said, but is not this part of the trial? What we want is a decisive change for the better, that shall continue,and of this the passage does not seem to assure us. Yes, it does. It lies deep in the very terms that are used. (1) "Anger" is a strong but transient emotion. Favour is a calm, continuous, steady sentiment. (2) Take two other contrasted terms "a moment," a "life." The anger is a thing of a moment; the favour is a thing that will live through life, and not die in death.
III. It is the design of the passage to teach us that one of these is more than the other, that the favour is more than the anger, the morning of joy more than the night of weeping. There is a balance of good in the world, using the word "good" in the lowest sense. Men are busy, men are happy, far more happy, at least, than miserable. Some few are miserable utterly; all are more or less unhappy at times and for a little. The dark time is for a moment.The brighter times stretch on, and flow into each other, and go far to fill up the life.
A. Raleigh, The Way to the City,p. 79.
References: Psalms 30:5. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 134; R. D. B. Rawnsley, Sermons in Country Churches,1st series, p. 118, and 3rd series, p. 120; J. E. Vaux, Sermon Notes,1st series, p. 66. Psalms 30:6. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 70.