Psalms 30:7
LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
Psalms 30:7
Verse 7 speaks of God’s “favour” that has made the speaker’s mountain stand strong, juxtaposed with the experience of hiding God’s face and being troubled. The image of a mountaintop suggests peak stability and public prominence, a life marked by visible strength. Yet the psalmist admits that, at times, God withdraws the sense of divine presence, leading to distress. This tension—felt security on one hand, felt absence on the other—reflects the real spiritual experience of many faithful people: seasons when God seems near and seasons when guidance feels distant. The theology here is not about punishment but about the relational dynamic with God, where trials refine trust and dependence.
The verse emphasizes God’s gracious access to strength and the fragility of human confidence. It invites reflection on how God’s face shining on us signals blessing, while absence signals a test of faith. The concept of “mountain” stability also connects to biblical imagery of God as fortress and sanctuary, reinforcing a theology of security grounded in God’s presence, not merely circumstances.
In times when you sense God’s favor lifting you into stability, remain humble and watchful for the danger of complacency. Use the memory of past deliverances to sustain faith during a perceived distance from God. If you’re in a season of felt absence, lean into disciplined practices: prayer, Scripture, supportive community, even when you don’t sense God’s nearness. Let others’ experiences of God’s faithfulness remind you that he remains present, even if not perceptible.
Cross-References: Psalm 16:11; Psalm 23; Isaiah 41:10; James 4:8; Psalm 27:4-5