“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. 11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”
Mike Purkey penned a song called, “Let’s Have Church” a few years ago, the lyrics are: “Well, David say to clap our hands and shout with a loud voice. Every time we come to church, we have to make a choice, We can sit there in our seats, we can act like we're asleep, Or, we can stand and praise The Kings of Kings. Crank up the music, let's have church, Well, let's forget about ourselves and put Jesus first. Well, let's clap our hands and testify, about His mighty works, Crank up the music, let's have church.”
“Well, in those old camp meeting days when I just a child, The music would start playing, we would step out in the aisle We would drink that living water, until it quenched our thirst, Crank up the music, let's have church. Crank up the music, let's have church, Well, let's forget about ourselves and put Jesus first.”
“Well, let's clap our hands and testify, about His mighty works, Crank up the music, let's have church. I'm tired of hearing people scream, at a football game, And, they come to church and they act real quiet, while I praise Jesus name. Well, if you feel the way I do, Why don't you get out of your seat, And let the spirit move you, from your head down to your feet.”
“Crank up the music, let's have church, Well, let's forget about ourselves and put Jesus first. Well, let's clap our hands and testify, about His mighty works, Crank up the music, let's have church.”
Introduction: Psalm 34, allows us to experience a Church Service. This Alphabet psalm includes a testimony, a hymn of praise and a sermon. David assures us that we always have reason to bless God, whatever may be our present condition; our mercies are great and multiplied, and our sufferings less than we deserve. So, he invites all to taste the goodness of the LORD. If we do, we will find that God delivers his people from every danger, and because of that, they are bound to bless and praise him. Though we may sometimes be in fear, God will not suffer us to fall. God know how to brighten up the countenance of the downhearted. None of those who fear him and wait upon his mercy will be disappointed at his throne of grace. If his angels are our guard, yea, if the God of angels be with us, we need not fear what men or devils can do against us.
David was ‘on the run’ from king Saul. Mistakenly thinking that he might find refuge with the Philistines, he only escaped from their clutches of Abimelech by pretending to be mad. After this narrow escape, he hid in a cave of Adullam. Knowing that David was in this place, his family came to encourage him. By the time they arrived, A company of some four hundred men in overwhelming circumstances had joined his band. (1 Samuel 22:1-2). Here we have a cave full of mistreated, depressed, discouraged, and desperate fugitives trying to deal with the setbacks of life. David’s response to their pitiful situation is a combination of thanksgiving, personal witness, evangelism, and wisdom teaching.
1. Having Church Means True Worship of God. David begins with a determination to “bless the LORD” and to tell forth His goodness. What we say to mistreated, depressed, discouraged, and desperate people matter. In this Psalm David reminds them and reflects Whose we are. What we speak about should reflect who we are in Him. To “bless the LORD” is to bow the knee in worship and praise. Worship has the power to change our attitude and our outlook. The words which we speak effect our attitudes and behavior. When we speak positively about the things of the LORD, good things can happen. The opposite is also true: when we ‘speak up’ bad things, that’s often just what we get! David determined that the praises of the LORD should constantly be in his mouth.
During this week, several of my acquaintances have experienced great difficult, Hoke County, loss their Sheriff, Della and the children, loss a love one, another friend, drowned while vacationing in another country, a Pastor friend and first cousin loss his wife of only five years. I know countless people are listening who have experienced similar situation. How do we keep on going? David’s strategy for living through adversity begins with worship.
The ‘sweet Psalmist of Israel’ sought to honor God in what amounted to a public worship service. I can almost hear him say, Let’s Have Church! This Psalm is not addressed to the LORD, but to the congregation. They are frustrated, poor, lowly, weak, and afflicted. (1 Samuel 22:2). David’s testimony calls for their response, and their participation. David understands his only pathway out of fear and trouble is turning to God with praise and worship. God promises to bless His people. He alone can free us from fear, deliver us from trouble, guard us against attacks, show us his kindness, supply our needs and redeem our lives from destruction.
2. Having Church Means Sharing A Heartfelt Testimony. David gives his testimony as encouragement to these fearful and fretting followers. “The LORD delivered me from all my fears.” Negative fears are the opposite of faith, and destructive to our peace and well-being. David understands how easy it is to complaint, grumble, and murmur against God. He understands that all eyes are upon him. So, from own observation, he says, “They looked to Him, and lightened.” Not only was continual praise in His mouth, but the glory of God’s goodness was also on his face. When Moses returned from the mountain, the glory of the LORD reflected on the face of Moses. The idea of radiance on the face of God’s children is Mentioned Isaiah and Jeremiah. David in a cave, beamed with satisfaction at the goodness of the LORD. We are also reminded of “the glory of the Lord in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). When we look to Him, the light of the LORD is reflected in our lives.
Let’s have church, because the distressed can find their encouragement by hearing our praise, listening to our testimony, and observing our countenance. “This poor (humble) man cried…” This is answered prayer - even where prayer is scarcely articulated. “The LORD heard the cry of the children of Israel” in Egypt (Exodus 3:9). The LORD hears, and saves, and redeems us from trouble.
“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. It is good to wake up in the morning with a word of worship in our mouths. It is good to speak well of the LORD throughout the day. It is good to lie down at night in praise and thanksgiving.
3. Having Church Means Celebrating What God has done and will do. Then David invites those who are hurting to Come, says David, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” We “taste and see” the goodness of the LORD when the words of the LORD have their rightful place in our lives (Psalm 119:103). Along with the good word of God, we also have a powerful foretaste of things to come (Hebrews 6:5). Peter encourages us in our desire for “the sincere milk of the word” which we have already tasted (1 Peter 2:2-3).
4. Having Church Includes responding to Christian Discipleship. It means responding in a personal way. David extends an invitation to all. To have church is to experience God’s worship, testimony, and to taste his goodness. When many Christians first believed, we savored the things of God, and put our trust in the LORD. We fellowshipped with Him in their daily lives. We were nourished from the table of the Lord, and all that the sacrament represents to us. Many came back saying, “We had Church Today! They were really saying, the LORD blessed us today. He added something to us today. Today, God saved some from our sins, and redeemed some from the full penalty of the law. God sent a seasonable rain, the former and the latter rain. God has given increase. He blessed us with good health, wealth, wisdom, status, success and blessed our children. The LORD protected us and delivered us - and gave us the peace that the world cannot give. We had Church!
The Bible never denies that the righteous do suffer. Yet the LORD “rescues” them out of all their afflictions. He “keeps” all their bones. There is a contrast between the righteous and the wicked, yet each will reap just what they sow (Galatians 6:7-8). Evil itself shall slay those who persist in their wicked ways. Those who hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD “redeems” the soul of His servants. There is “no condemnation” to those who are in Christ Jesus - redeemed by the blood of the Lamb - “walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). We must assist others during this difficult season. David could not solve all their problem, but he could invite them into a relationship with the problem solver. Everyone is invited to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Let's Have Church!
