From ALL our troubles.

Psalm 34 is one of my favorite Psalms in the Scriptures. Over the years these words have given me the most hope, especially when I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Notice first the introduction:

“A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.”

This Psalm opens with information about one of the most humiliating times in David’s life. David was willing to write about an painful event that would become public record--for the whole world to read. He was so real, so vulnerable. I can identify with him…so many mistakes, so many times saying the wrong thing, missing an opportunity to do and say the right thing…looking back and wishing he could have done it differently. Let’s keep reading this Psalm:

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

David realized that his recent victory over Goliath had blinded him to the Source of his real power, as he now flees in humiliation and fear. Fear is always an indicator that we have taken our eyes off the Lord. But now David has “sought” the Lord, and in the next verse he is “looking” to God, and the shame is dispelled. The beauty of our God is that He can change our feelings with the blink of His grace. I have heard it said, “actions first, then feelings will follow.” More of Psalm 34: “They looked unto him, and were lightened: their faces were not ashamed.” Fear and shame always go hand in hand. This was first introduced into the human race with Adam and Eve. They were afraid so they hid, then covered their shame with fig leaves. Mankind continues to hide and cover their sins and insecurities…the result is fear and bondage. What can be done? More of Psalm 34: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard, and saved him out of all his troubles.” I love this verse…saved from ALL his troubles. I have experienced this time and again over these last thirty years of knowing the Lord. But it takes crying out to the Lord. Maybe Jesus was thinking of this Psalm when he was preaching his sermon on the mountain: “Blessed are those who cry, for they shall be comforted.” More of Psalm 34: “The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him. O fear the LORD, you his saints: for there is no lack to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” So far the word “fear” has appear four times. The first word for fear when referring to our fears carries the idea of being frightened. It is that fear that puts a pit in your stomach. The remedy is to cry out to the Lord while seeking Him. The next three times the word fear is used is in reference to our fear of God. This is a entirely different Hebrew word which carries the idea of reverential and moral fear. This is a fear that is pure; it is a fear that one would exercise before a King, when fear and respect for a Monarch was not tainted with so much distrust and political dishonesty. This kind of fear can be cultivated when we heed the answer to he following question: “What man desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against then that do evil…The righteous cry and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Recently a family member did something that was very offensive to me, though they did not see things from my perspective…their hurtful words and actions came at time when I had just heard that my father was taken to the emergency room with a possible heart attack. Usually I do not hold a grudge for more than a few minutes…I tend to forgive easily. But this was different. Someone was not being considerate of me in connection to my dad…my love for him cannot be described with words. And then I read Psalm 37 the other day: “Cease from anger and forsake wrath, fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” When I am offended I can bounce back rather easily. When someone offends me and it hurts someone I love, I can become very bitter. God knows what we need in order for us to see the wickedness of our heart…we so want to hold on to our hurt so we can hurt those who hurt us. Remember, actions of obedience first, then feelings will follow. Note in this section of Psalm 34, that we are to seek peace and pursue it…THEN THE LORD CAN HEAR OUR CRY. THEN THE LORD CAN DELIVER US FROM ALL OUR TROUBLES. More of Psalm 34: “The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart; and delivers such as be of a contrite spirit.” I have quoted this verse for years but never really understood the meaning of contrite. It means “crushed.” This week I have had a broken heart as I have sat praying and waiting for my dad to show some sign of recovery. I have been here at the hospital now for a week. It has been a heart breaking week. I felt as if my spirit was crushed. But if one’s spirit possesses bitterness, then it is not truly crushed. It is still filled with bitterness and resentment. So how does one empty their spirit of resentment when they have been so hurt? More of Psalm 34: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.

In this world we will have tribulation and offenses will come. They are for our benefit. They rid us of ourselves. They teach us that God is ultimately in control and that He will redeem us, if we will follow His ways. And one reason we can trust Him is because of the fact that not one of His bones was broken. Whose bones? This is a reference to the Lord Jesus and his death on the cross. The soldiers did not break his legs like they did to the two thieves; this was a practice used to bring about death after crucifixion. God had written in His Word that none of his bones would be broken. And none were. God can be trusted. He keeps His promises. We will be severely tested—we must be crucified with Christ; many are the afflictions of the righteous—seek peace, keep your tongue from guile, depart from evil, and do good, cry out to the LORD and he will hear, and deliver us out of all our troubles. Recommended Reading: Dialogues of Fenelon ; Let Go by Fenelon; True Faced by McNikol

Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.