A Study of Psalm 34
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.”
- It is exactly what God did for you and I today as well:
- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Big Idea – God calls us to Himself, always
- 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
- Pray (peace in uncertain times, grace in chaos, mercy in trouble)
* Special thanks to Holman Old Testament Commentary for the foundational outline of this sermon.