Sermon Central
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A Study Of Psalm 34 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jan 4, 2018 (message contributor)
Summary: This psalm expresses gratitude to God – something we can ALL do more of. What we choose to do with this information is entirely up to each of us. Will we desire to run to Him, or be slaves to ourselves and our own desires?
A Study of Psalm 34
Introduction
- Wed night format; opportunity to study together from our homes
-- Ask questions if you’d like in the comments (during this time or later)
-- Re: Invite someone else to join in – not an exclusive study for “just us”
- Psalms broken into 5 books, cover an extensive time period
- Gathered together as songs of praise & words of encouragement/warning
- We are studying book 1, Psalm 1-41 … primary focus on David’s experience
- The Psalms have already given us plenty of opportunities to praise
-- The daily challenge for us is this: will we remember what we’ve seen/read?
- This Psalm was written when David was in hiding; surrounded by King Saul
-- He pleads with the Lord to rescue him; God answered and rescued
- This psalm expresses gratitude to God – something we all can do more of
-- EX: Imagine being outside tonight (it’s 30 degrees) … we can be grateful
- Read Psalm 34:1-22 / Pray
Point 1 – David Acknowledges and Testifies about God
• He is continuous (v1)
- Since He is everlasting, we have a never-ending opportunity to praise Him
-- David’s confession is that he will always praise God for who he is
• He is contagious (v2)
- When we praise, it can be very contagious
-- Praise has the opportunity to raise moods, change hearts, lift souls
-- God is the very definition of praise … He is too good to ignore
• He is communal (v3)
- As a body, we are encouraged to praise Him together … it draws us in
-- Honestly, life is isolated enough – at least in praise we can be unified
- God, in the same way, desires us to be brought together
-- Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Look at how David testifies about God:
• God delivered him (v4)
- David understands that his prayer was answered when he cried out to God
-- His life was filled with trauma; yet God heard/responded to him
• God delighted me (v5)
- Just meeting with God brings about happiness/hope
-- Those who spend time with Him are obvious – written on their face
-- Moses experienced this same thing; APP: God’s glory shines from those
• God defended me (v6-7)
o Out of my troubles; the poor man is David – he was rescued
o By the angel of the Lord; God provided the rescue
- V6 and 7 gives David opportunity to testify … “Look what God did!”
- APP: If we all would spend more time expressing gratitude; less for complaining
-- However, it means surrendering our control to Him – to place in His hands
- It is in this that we find our joy; when we see how powerful God is
- TRANS:
Point 2 – David provides wisdom for us
- David gives us some instruction that we can take and apply today
-- He uses simple commands that we can understand and apply to our life
• Taste the Lord (v8); experience what God can do for you
• Fear the Lord (v9); live with reverence towards Him
• Come to the Lord (v10); flee from the desires of what you want
• Turn from evil (v11-14); decide to not partake in things of wickedness
• Do good (v14); be intentional in how you live your life
- IMP: All of these costs NOTHING to do! They are all choices of how to live!
- But, you might ask, “Why would we do these things?”
-- Or … “Why would I want to give up the things I like for a godly life?”
- Answer: Because of who He is and what He can offer you!
• He sees (v15); the eyes of the Lord miss nothing that you do
• He hears (v15-17); when we cry out to Him, He hears and comforts us
• He rescues (v17-20); God alone has the power to save you from trouble
• He judges (v21); He fights for us … stands in the gap when enemy attacks
• He redeems (v22); He places us in a place of restoration
- The word redeem means (Heb. padah), “to ransom or rescue from great harm”
- This is exactly what God did for the Israelites (David is reminding them)
- Deuteronomy 7:8, “But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
- Deuteronomy 15:15, “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.”
