Psalms 30:6

KJV

¶ And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

KJV (with Strong's)

And in my prosperity {H7959} I said {H559}, I shall never {H5769} be moved {H4131}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Once I was prosperous and used to say, that nothing could ever shake me

Berean Standard Bible

In prosperity I said, “I will never be shaken.”

American Standard Version

As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 30:6 offers a poignant confession from King David, revealing a moment of profound human frailty and spiritual overconfidence. Having experienced a season of remarkable prosperity and stability, David, in his self-assuredness, declared himself unshakeable. This verse serves as a candid admission of the spiritual complacency that can arise from earthly blessings, illustrating the universal human tendency to trust in circumstances or self rather than in God's unfailing providence and sustaining hand. It sets the stage for the subsequent narrative of divine withdrawal and the humbling realization of true dependence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 30 is a psalm of thanksgiving, likely composed by David for the dedication of his house (or perhaps the temple site). The psalm begins with exuberant praise for God's deliverance from death and enemies (e.g., [Psalm 30:1-3](/psalms/30-1 "Psalm 30:1-3 - God's Deliverance from Death")). Following this, David calls on others to praise God's holy name, contrasting His momentary anger with His lifelong favor ([Psalm 30:4-5](/psalms/30-4 "Psalm 30:4-5 - God's Favor and Everlasting Life")). Verse 6 then presents a stark shift, a retrospective confession of David's prideful presumption during a time of ease, which immediately precedes a description of God's hidden face and David's subsequent distress ([Psalm 30:7](/psalms/30-7 "Psalm 30:7 - God Hides His Face")). This structure highlights the cyclical nature of human pride, divine discipline, and ultimate restoration through humble prayer.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King David, a figure of immense historical and theological significance, had experienced remarkable success. He had unified the kingdom of Israel, defeated numerous enemies, and established Jerusalem as his capital. His reign brought unprecedented peace and prosperity to the nation. In such a position of power, security, and divine blessing, it would have been easy for David, or any leader, to attribute stability to his own strength, strategic prowess, or the inherent robustness of his kingdom. Culturally, a king's stability was often seen as a reflection of divine favor, but David's confession underscores the danger of mistaking God's gifts for self-generated security. The phrase "my prosperity" (Hebrew: *shalwah*) encapsulates not just material wealth but also a state of deep tranquility and freedom from external threats, a condition that could easily breed spiritual complacency.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **the peril of prosperity**, demonstrating how ease and success can lead to spiritual forgetfulness and a false sense of security, echoing warnings found in [Deuteronomy 8:11-14](/deuteronomy/8-11 "Deuteronomy 8:11-14 - Warning Against Forgetting God in Prosperity"). Secondly, it highlights **human frailty and pride**, revealing David's momentary lapse into self-sufficiency, a common human failing that often precedes a fall, as articulated in [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before a Fall"). Lastly, the verse, in conjunction with the subsequent verses of Psalm 30, illustrates **the fleeting nature of earthly security** when it is not firmly rooted in God. True and lasting stability is not found in circumstances or personal strength, but solely in the Lord's steadfast presence and sustaining power, a truth consistently affirmed throughout the Psalms, such as in [Psalm 62:2](/psalms/62-2 "Psalm 62:2 - God Alone is My Rock and Salvation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prosperity (Hebrew, _shalwah'_):** This word (שַׁלְוָה) denotes more than just material wealth; it signifies a state of security, ease, tranquility, and quietness. It describes a profound sense of peace and stability, a lack of disturbance or threat. In David's context, it refers to the secure and flourishing state of his kingdom and personal life, free from the anxieties of war or political instability. The word implies a deep sense of well-being, which, paradoxically, can become a spiritual snare.
* **Moved (Hebrew, _môt'_):** The verb (מוּט) from which "moved" (אֶמּוֹט, *emmot*, "I shall be moved") is derived means to totter, waver, stumble, or slip. David's declaration, "I shall never be moved," expresses an absolute conviction of unshakeable stability and permanence. He believed himself to be so firmly established that no adversity could dislodge him. This reflects a misplaced confidence, as the very next verse shows God "hiding His face," causing David to be "dismayed," thus demonstrating that his foundation was not as stable as he presumed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And in my prosperity I said":** This clause sets the scene, identifying the specific context—a time of ease, security, and flourishing—in which David's overconfident declaration was made. The "I said" is a personal confession, indicating an internal thought or boast, perhaps not even spoken aloud but certainly a settled conviction in his heart. It highlights the deceptive nature of prosperity, which can lull one into a false sense of self-sufficiency.
* **"I shall never be moved":** This is the core of David's hubris. It expresses an absolute certainty of perpetual stability, an unshakeable position. The emphatic "never" (לֹא עוֹלָם, *lo' 'olam*, "not forever" or "never at all") underscores the depth of his conviction. David, in this moment, effectively forgot that his stability was a gift from God, not an inherent quality of his reign or person. He claimed for himself a divine attribute of immovability, which belongs to God alone.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 30:6 masterfully employs several literary devices. The primary device is **Confession**, as David openly admits his past error of pride and overconfidence. This is not a defensive statement but a humble acknowledgment of a spiritual misstep. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; David's declaration of being "never moved" is immediately contradicted by the subsequent verses where God "hid his face" and David was "dismayed" ([Psalm 30:7](/psalms/30-7 "Psalm 30:7 - God Hides His Face")), demonstrating the fragility of human security apart from divine sustenance. This swift reversal serves as a potent **Foreshadowing** of the inevitable consequences of human pride and self-reliance, setting up the psalm's pivot to a renewed cry for God's mercy and a deeper understanding of true dependence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 30:6 serves as a profound theological warning against the spiritual dangers of prosperity and self-reliance. It teaches that true security and stability are not found in one's circumstances, achievements, or even in a period of peace, but solely in the steadfast hand of God. David's confession illustrates the human tendency to forget divine dependence when life is comfortable, leading to a dangerous overestimation of one's own strength and permanence. This verse underscores the biblical principle that pride precedes a fall, and that even the most blessed individuals are susceptible to spiritual complacency if they do not continually acknowledge God as the source of all good. It calls believers to cultivate humility and gratitude in all seasons, recognizing that every blessing is a gift and that ultimate stability rests in the unchanging character of the Lord.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [Psalm 62:2](/psalms/62-2 "Psalm 62:2 - God Alone is My Rock and Salvation")
* [1 Corinthians 10:12](/1_corinthians/10-12 "1 Corinthians 10:12 - Warning Against Overconfidence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 30:6 offers a timeless mirror for self-examination, urging us to consider where our true security lies. In an age that often equates success with self-sufficiency, David's confession reminds us that seasons of prosperity can be spiritually perilous, subtly lulling us into forgetting our absolute dependence on God. When life is going well, when finances are stable, health is good, and relationships are flourishing, it is easy to unconsciously shift our trust from the divine Provider to the provision itself. This verse calls us to cultivate a posture of perpetual humility and gratitude, recognizing that every blessing is a gift from above and that our stability is entirely contingent upon God's sustaining grace. It challenges us to remain vigilant against the insidious creep of pride, ensuring that our confidence is always rooted in the unshakeable character of God, rather than in the shifting sands of earthly circumstances. True peace and lasting security are found not in what we possess or achieve, but in our unwavering trust in the Lord, who alone is our rock and refuge in every season.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you tend to feel most secure, and is that security truly rooted in God or in your circumstances?**
* **How does prosperity or success sometimes lead you to forget your dependence on God?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility and gratitude, especially during times of blessing?**

### FAQ
**What does "prosperity" mean in the context of this verse, and why is it dangerous?**

Answer: In Psalm 30:6, "prosperity" (Hebrew: *shalwah*) refers to a state of profound ease, security, tranquility, and flourishing, not just material wealth. For David, it encompassed the stability of his kingdom, his personal well-being, and freedom from enemies. It is dangerous because, as the verse illustrates, such a state can lead to spiritual complacency and pride. When life is comfortable and seemingly secure, it's easy to forget that all blessings come from God and to begin trusting in one's own strength, resources, or the permanence of favorable circumstances, rather than in the Lord who provides and sustains all things. This false sense of self-sufficiency can lead to a spiritual fall, as David experienced when God "hid his face" ([Psalm 30:7](/psalms/30-7 "Psalm 30:7 - God Hides His Face")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 30:6, with David's confession of human frailty and misplaced confidence, finds its ultimate fulfillment and contrast in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's declaration, "I shall never be moved," reveals the inherent instability of even the most blessed human king, highlighting the need for a truly unshakeable foundation. Christ, however, is the very embodiment of divine steadfastness and the true source of immovable security. Unlike David, who was moved by God's withdrawal, Jesus declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")), and He is the one who upholds the universe by the word of His power ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things")). Our true prosperity and eternal security are found not in earthly circumstances or personal strength, but in being "in Christ," for He is the "rock" upon which we can build our lives, and the gates of hell will not prevail against His church ([Matthew 7:24-27](/matthew/7-24 "Matthew 7:24-27 - The Wise and Foolish Builders"); [Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Church Built on the Rock")). David's temporary deliverance and restoration foreshadow the ultimate, permanent deliverance from sin and death achieved by Christ's sacrifice on the cross. In Him, we find not a fleeting prosperity, but an eternal inheritance and an unshakeable kingdom ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakeable Kingdom")), for He is the one who "is the same yesterday and today and forever" ([Hebrews 13:8](/hebrews/13-8 "Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the Same Forever")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.