Psalm 34
A while back, we talked about the butterfly effect. We discussed it when the Israelites entered Jericho, which was when God finally fulfilled his promise of giving them “the promised land“ When they went in, he gave them instructions not to take anything for themselves, but there was one person who disobeyed, and because of his action the whole nation of Israel suffered. 36 people who may or not have even known him, had a family member die.
Well tonight, we’re gonna see how the jealousy of one man and his lust for murder, and the fear of another man and his decision to act crazy, brought us to a place here tonight in this room in Tea, SD, where we are going to unpack the first 9 verses of a great chapter in a great book of the Bible and hopefully see it in a way deeper light.
Set the scene:
David…, yes David of David and Goliath, was fearful for his life. At the time that David killed the giant Goliath, the king of Israel was a man named Saul. He was very popular until David killed Goliath. After he did that, over the years he became, a general in Saul’s army. He was very successful and he grew more and more popular. They even made a song about him saying “Saul killed his thousands, but David killed his tens of thousands.” Because David was getting more popular than Saul, Saul decided to have him killed because he was worried David would become king. Several times Saul plotted and attempted to murder David, and several times David escaped. And this is where our story takes place tonight.
Read:
1 Samuel 21:10-22:1
10. And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 12. And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14. Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15. Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
1 Samuel 22:1
1. David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
In your own words, what is going on in these Bible verses?
David is fleeing from Saul, and he went to the king of Gathgaff. And the servants of the king said I think this is the same David that Saul is trying to kill. So David is now afraid that the king of Gath is going to kill him for Saul. So in order to escape, David starts to act like he’s crazy. he pretends to be insane starts scratching at the doors and the gate and let’s spit run down his beard. Because of this, the king tells his servants to get rid of David and he escapes.
You might think that all of this is what we’re going to study tonight, but it’s not. We have merely been setting the scene because as David is hiding from this whole action, he sits down in a cave and writes Psalm 34. Tonight we are going to unpack the first part of Psalm 34.
And at the end of the night, I’m going to show you how you can remember it forever…
Psalms 34:1-9 – ESV
1. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be 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 encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9. Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
This will be different. We are going to unpack these verses…out of order..
But before we start, I have a question: what are you afraid of?
What were you afraid of as a kid?
What are you afraid of today?
What should you do about it?
Psalms 34:4-5 – ESV
4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
This is so awesome. The answer is right here. What should you do about your fears? You should search for the Lord.
Look at how beautiful this is. I saw the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Is that amazing or what?
Philippians 4:6-7 – ESV
6. do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Does this mean that we will never fear or have anxiety?
David sought the Lord and he delivered him from his fears. (So clearly David was afraid)
But look here – this is before chapter 34
Psalms 27:3 – ESV
3. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
Psalms 27:1 – ESV
1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
David seems to have no fear here but later he does.
So we continually seek God for peace. Fear and faith are in opposition….
5. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
What do you think it means in verse 5 where it says those who look to him or radiant?
A little research-the word in Hebrew is nahar, which indicates cheerfulness. Another English translation is “beaming“
Ecclesiastes 8:1 – ESV
1. Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
Another verse with a logical thread: a man’s wisdom makes his face shine, or be radiant.
How do you get wisdom? Fear of the Lord.
Fear of the Lord starts with “in the beginning, God…“
Foundational verse in this group, “in the beginning God… Leads to fear the Lord… Leads to wisdom… Which leads to radiance.
Awesome…
The second part of verse five and their faces shall never be ashamed
What does this mean?
The first part of the verse says those two look to him or radiant and their faces she’ll never be ashamed
So how do you feel no shame? You keep your eyes on the Lord.
Take your eyes off the Lord, and you can commit an embarrassing sin.
Psalms 34:6-7 – ESV
6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
What does it mean that David said “poor man?”
David is demonstrating his awareness that he knows he has nothing to offer back to God. He is humbling himself before God. There’s a difference between trying to make a deal with God as if you can do something for him in return for him helping you.
You certainly can do things for him, but it should be out of a heart of gratitude.
John 16:33 – ESV
33. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 28:20 – ESV
20. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
James 4:8-10 – ESV
8. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
These versus explain that just because we’re believers does not mean we won’t have trouble. But it does mean we won’t have to face our trouble alone.
John to God and he will draw near to you. Address God with humility and gratitude.
What does this mean to you?
7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
In the Old Testament, when it says “the angel of the Lord” to whom are they referring?
Genesis 32:1 – ESV
1. Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
This was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Even though Jesus hasn’t been born yet in history, they are referring to the Christ when they say “the angel of the Lord“
These next two verses are so awesome and they should give us great comfort.
Romans 8:38-39 – ESV
38. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hebrews 1:14 – ESV
14. Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
These verses can give you so much comfort. Even if America was invaded, and we all went to prison camps, and we were beaten, they cannot get to our soul. Our soul is completely protected from invasion or loss. Nothing can separate you from God‘s love.
What do you think of this verse from Hebrews?
Psalms 34:3 – ESV
3. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
I promise you after tonight, you will never forget this verse…
What do you think this verse means?
Magnify! Exalt! Together!
Listen to these verses about believers joining together, magnifying, exulting the Lord.
Psalms 133:1 – ESV
1. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
John 17:20-23 – ESV
20. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21. that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Ephesians 4:1-6 – ESV
1. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2. with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3. eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 – ESV
10. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14. I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15. so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Acts 4:24 – ESV
24. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them…
Psalms 34:8-9 – ESV
8. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9. Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
What does it mean to? “taste and see that the Lord is good?”
Obviously, it doesn’t mean to actually literally eat. Look at these verses:
John 6:53-54 – ESV
53. So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Revelation 10:2-10 – ESV
2. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3. and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 4. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” 5. And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6. and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7. but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. 8. Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9. So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10. And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter.
Joshua 1:8 – ESV
8. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Taste and sea means that we need to do more than just read God’s word. We need to devour it, and make it part of us. We need to keep it on our mouth day and night.
How do you keep from sending and walking in God’s path? We talked about it a week or two ago. You have to have a plan ahead of time.
Don’t wait till your face with temptation, have God’s word on your mouth day and night so you can fight the evil one.
Matthew 5:6 – ESV
6. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
9. Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
Again, this “fear“ is not being afraid or at least not only being afraid. This is the fear of reverence. As in “in the beginning, God…“
Psalms 84:11-12 – ESV
11. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Psalms 34:1 – ESV
1. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
David promises to praise the Lord at all times. No matter what the situation is, David will praise God.
David had just been miraculously saved from the philistines by acting crazy.
What does in mean in “the real world” to praise God in every situation? Read these verses and think of how to answer..
Philippians 1:18 – ESV
18. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
Philippians 4:4 – ESV
4. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – ESV
18. give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
2 Samuel 22:2-4 – ESV
2. He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 3. my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 4. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 34 – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
[Verse 1]
I sought the Lord
And He answered me
And delivered me
From every fear
Those who look on Him
Are radiant
They’ll never be ashamed
They’ll never be ashamed
(Psalms 34:4-5 – ESV
4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.)
[Verse 2]
This poor man cried
And the Lord heard me
And saved me from
My enemies
The Son of God
Surrounds His saints
He will deliver them
He will deliver them
(Psalms 34:6-7 – ESV
6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.)
[Chorus]
Magnify thе Lord with me
Come exalt His namе together
Glorify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name forever
(Psalms 34:3 – ESV
3. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! )
[Verse 3]
Oh, taste and see
That the Lord is good
Oh, blessed is He
Who hides in Him
Oh, fear the Lord
Oh, all you saints
He’ll give you everything
He’ll give you everything
Psalms 34:8-9 – ESV
8. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9. Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
[Chorus]
Magnify thе Lord with me
Come exalt His namе together
Glorify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name forever
(Psalms 34:3 – ESV
3. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!)
[Bridge]
Let us bless the Lord
Every day and night
Never-ending praise
May our incense rise
Let us bless the Lord
Every day and night
Never-ending praise
May our incense rise
Let us bless the Lord
Every day and night
Never-ending praise
May our incense rise
Let us bless the Lord
Every day and night
Never-ending praise
May our incense rise
(Psalms 34:1 – ESV
1. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.)
[Chorus]
Magnify thе Lord with me
Come exalt His namе together
Glorify the Lord with me
Come exalt His name forever
(Psalms 34:3 – ESV
3. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!)