Psalm
34 reminds me that it is during the difficulties of life that God can
show Himself most clearly. Even those born into a home with godly
parents must take a personal step of faith. Many times that step
comes when they are beyond their own strength. Here David reflects
back on a time of real danger and fear, and acknowledges God’s
deliverance. Often, one event can trigger a cascade of new problems.
In those times it is very easy to doubt God or our own worthiness.
If you are there now, David offers this encouragement, “I
will extol the Lord
at
all times… My soul will boast in the Lord… Glorify the Lord with
me; let us exalt His name together“.
He is saying this from the perspective of “I
have been where you are now“.
He offers a hand of hope to lift us up out of our circumstances.
The subtitle of the psalm reminds us this was written when David ran
for his life straight into the enemy kingdom. Many times we initiate
problems by our own actions. David shares his testimony of triumph,
“I
sought the Lord, and
He
answered me; He delivered me from all my fears“.
Worry can paralyze us; prayer can set us free and draw us close.
David adds, “Those
who look to Him are radiant“.
We can pray anywhere and without ceasing, but I am convinced that
without taking some quiet time before God, our prayer life s lacking.
Lift up your needs before the Lord.
David
continues telling his personal story, “This
poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
He
saved him out of all his troubles“.
He adds this challenge to all who are hesitant, “Taste
and see that the Lord is good;
blessed
is the man who takes refuge in Him“.
This does not mean that we can come before Almighty God without
reverence. David adds, “Come,
my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord“.
I believe there truly is a spiritual battle taking place that we are
usually oblivious to. David explains, “The
angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him“.
It is the attitude of our heart that matters most, but there are
many examples in the Bible of people praying on their knees or even
lower. Ephesians 3:14 describes God complete authority and the
apostle says, “For
this reason I kneel before the Father“.
Are you willing to bow before The Almighty?
The
psalm ends with a focus on “the righteous”. “The
eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to
their cry… the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their
troubles“.
So who are the righteous? I don’t believe you can know the
righteous by outward appearances. The righteous are those who have
been forgiven. Jesus compared two men in Luke 18; one had all the
outward signs of religious prestige, the other was a hated tax
collector. Jesus said it was the tax collector who left justified.
“He
would
not so much as raise his
eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to
me a sinner!’”
David closes the psalm with a word to those ready to be restored.
“The
Lord is
close
to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A
righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from
them all…
The
Lord redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge
in Him.”
Are you dealing with difficulties? God has not turned His back on
you, He desires you to call on Him. “Do
you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and
patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward
repentance?”
(Romans 2:4). Taste and see that the Lord is good.