Psalm 34 - The Lord Redeems His Servants
Have an attitude of gratitude – He is worthy of our thankfulness.
All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
"The highest point of all worship and prayer is adoration and praise and thanksgiving."
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
This is an acrostic psalm, one to be memorized.
Background - 1 Samuel 21:1-22:2
Vs 1-3 David's personal worship
Vs 4-7 David's testimony
Vs 8-14 David's experience
Vs 15-22 David's wonder of it all --
He hears and sees me.
He delivers me.
He protects me.
He redeems me.
Vs 1-3 In the midst of hiding from Saul -
David stops and praises God -
·
at all times·
telling Him how wonderful He is·
(He is speaking to those 400 men who have joined him in the cave of Adullam.)
He says, "If you are discouraged, then take heart.
Come, let's celebrate the Lord's greatness; let's exalt His name together!" Relationship
David is praising the Lord out of his own experience. I need to choose to praise God. That is my responsibility.
Vs 4-7 David gives his testimony. This is how it is!
I prayed to the Lord.
He answered me.
(How?) He freed me from my fears. (He didn't take me out of the problem, but I am no longer afraid.)
I have found if I look to the Lord, I am radiant with joy. Shame no longer shadows over me.
Look doesn’t mean just a glance; it means really a fixed gaze on Him.
I cried to the Lord when I was suffering again; He heard my prayer. Again He took away my fears.
He gives His angels watch over me.
Similla similibus curanter -- likes are cured by likes - ie. fear of God cures fear in me - used in medicine to heal (like homeopathic medicine) Use the problem to cure the problem.
See Psalm 91 and Isaiah 43.
VS 8-10 David's experience
I have tasted (experienced God).
I have found joy in Him.
I have all I need.
I have never lacked any good thing.
As long as God is in Heaven - all is well!
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
We need to feed ourselves with His Word.
Psalm 84:11 … no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
I will boast - lavish on Him my gratitude and boast in Him aloneVs 11-14 Let me teach you how to fear the Lord.
1) Watch your tongue. Don't lie!
2) Turn from evil.
3) Do good.
4) Work hard at living in peace with others.
Why? The Lord will watch over you.
He will hear you when you cry out to Him.
If you don't
The Lord will turn His face from those
1) Who don't fear Him.
2) Who do evil.
3) He will erase their memory from the earth.
David continues his teaching. He is teaching others in the cave what is means to know and trust God.
When I am in trouble, broken hearted, crushed in spirit, the Lord rescues me.
Vs 17-22 If you fear God - words like hears, rescues, is close to, comfort those who are crushed - they protect them, redeem them - fully pardon them.
When I am in trouble, broken hearted, crushed in spirit, the Lord rescues me.
Again in Vs 21 - the contrast
The wicked will see calamity and punishment .
David's point is not a negative.
I can best describe this as a vineyard. I could say that I don't go in and break the branches; I don't neglect to water the crops.
i.e. - I don't swear. I don't cheat. I don't lie.
The point is what I do to nurture, encourage.
I do that which is right, that which is needed in my vineyard. I seek what is best for it even when I am tired. I thank God for the sunshine and the rain and the opportunity to bear much fruit.
It's not what I think about myself. It's what God thinks and being obedient to His call on my life.
David is not in the mansion. He is in a cave.
He is praising God in the midst of the trials going on in his life.
His fear of God (awesomeness) heals the fear of the flesh.
He is not counting on his righteousness, but only on God's.
It is not what he doesn't do that bears fruit -- but what he actively does to bear fruit - repent, praise, trust, worship, and share with others what he has experienced.
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