LEARNING DAILY

 

Psalm 34:4, 10b, I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

 

King David wrote this Psalm when he faced danger and was running from Saul. David chose to pray about His situation because He knew God would hear him and deliver him from his situation. This Psalm was the result of David’s seeking God, God hearing him, and praise to His miraculous deliverance from his great trouble. Matthew Henry wrote, “If we plan to spend eternity praising God, it is fit that we should spend much of our time here in this work.” As we go about our busy lives, we must not forget about Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday! Matthew Henry writes, “But on looking to Christ depends our whole salvation, and all things needful thereunto do so also.” Jesus as the Good Shepherd has saved all who believe in Him from eternal separation from God through His death and resurrection; Believers are to continue to seek Him and give Him praise in all circumstances in their lives.

 

In verse 7, David writes that “the angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him”. Some Bible scholars refer to the “the angel of the Lord” as ministering angels. I agree with those who believe this is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that the Lord is always with “those who fear Him”. Other Scripture tells us that He has appointed His angels to protect and be with us when there is physical and spiritual danger in our lives. Psalm 34 has some wonderful promises for God’s people. What catches my attention are the phrases “those who fear Him”, “those who seek Him” and “those who trust Him”.

 

Are the promises in this Psalm based around these phrases? God promises in this Psalm to deliver us from evil (v. 4), save us from trouble (v. 6, 17), send us angels to encamp around us (v. 7), supply our needs (v. 9), give us abundant lie (v. 12), hear our prayers (v. 15), comfort us with His presence (v. 18), and redeem our souls (v. 22). But we must seek Him (v.4, 10), cry out to Him (v. 6), draw close to Him and fear Him (v. 7,9), keep our tongues from the evil of lying (v. 13), remain separate from the evil world (v. 14), do good and pursue peace (v.14), have contrite hearts (v. 18), and become His servants (v. 22)!

 

God was the One who sent His Son to die for each of us while we were still sinners. He initiated the conviction of sin in our lives and the need for a Savior. We were lost; so, He sent His Son to redeem us and bring whosoever would believe back into His eternal family. It was God’s grace that found each of us and saved us by faith. It is because of this that Believers can turn to God, especially in their fears, knowing that He hears and will deliver them from their fears and keep no good thing from them. Because of that, because we will spend eternity in God’s kingdom praising Him, should that not be what we spend time doing now!