Blessed are Those Who Trust in the LORD

Psalm 34:19 NKJV

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Background

David fled from King Saul and went to Achish, king of Gath. When the servants of king Achish recognized him as one who the Israelites celebrated for killing Goliath and many of the Philistines, David became afraid and pretended madness. King Achish dismissed David as a threat and let him go on his way. The LORD had delivered him. Psalm 34 David celebrates the blessedness of those who trust in the LORD and exhorts others to do the same.

Bless the LORD!

Psalm 34:1–2 NKJV

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Bless the LORD at all times!

His praise shall continually be in my mouth!

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD!

The humble shall hear of it and be glad!

Magnify the LORD!

Psalm 34:3 NKJV

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

Let us exalt His name forever!

“Exalt” (ruwm, “room”): Lift up His name to the highest place in praise.

Seek the LORD!

Psalm 34:4–7 NKJV

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Seek to know Him, His ways, and His will.

Cry out to the LORD in our time of need!

He hears us!

He delivers us from all our fears!

Those who cry out to Him become radiant!

Those who cry out to Him will not be ashamed!

The LORD saves us out of all our troubles.

Experience the LORD’s Goodness!

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Taste and see that the LORD is good!

It is one thing to hear that an orange tastes good. It is another thing to taste and experience that an orange is good!

We are blessed when we trust in the LORD!

Fear the LORD!

Psalm 34:9–14 NKJV

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Recognize the LORD as God, Creator, Lawgiver, King, and Judge.

Honor and obey the LORD with deep reverence and respect.

Fear of the LORD is known by changing the way we talk, walk, and live in accountability to Him.

There is no want to those who fear Him!

The LORD Distinguishes between the Righteous and the Wicked

The Demise of the Wicked

Psalm 34:16 NKJV

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalm 34:21 NKJV

Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

The face of the LORD is against those who do evil.

The LORD will cut off from the earth the remembrance of those who do evil.

Evil shall slay the wicked.

Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

The Blessing of the Righteous

Psalm 34:15–22 NKJV

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

The LORD’s ears are open to their cries!

The LORD hears them when they cry out!

The LORD delivers them from all their troubles!

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart!

The LORD saves those who have a contrite heart!

The LORD delivers the righteous from their many afflictions!

The LORD preserves (guards the bones) the righteous!

The LORD redeems the soul of His servants!

No one who trusts in the LORD shall be condemned!

Response to the Word

The LORD distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked.

Will you experience the blessing of the righteous or the demise of the wicked?

Righteousness with God can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Believe and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ so that you might be saved!