Psalm 34: Worshipping God when the world is against you.

How can we worship God when it feels like world is falling in on us.

Seasons - Good - lots to praise God. But seasons of hardship.

Talking about joy.

Keller. Trust enjoyment always expresses itself in praise.

I googled tips to enjoy the best of life and this is what i found:

1) Realise that life is indeed good now

2) Find humour in everything

3) Stop acting the victim

4) Embrace change

5) Take concrete steps to make things better. - 5 tips are escapism

Problem. All forms of escapism. Fail to recognise the reality of misery.

(Losing grandad?)

Psalm 34 is all about Joy. Enjoying what is good. David starts by praising God Read v1-2. Urges us to do the same.

We think; David must have been having great time.

But then we look at context. If you read the NIV intro what are we told.

“Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelek who drove him away, and he left.”

For those who want to look: 1 Samuel 21:10-15, David is on the run. He has been anointed to be King, and yet hopes have been dashed, as Saul tried to kill him - has a target on his back. He goes to Gath seeking safety but find none, and so in danger is he that he pretends to be insane to make it clear he isn’t a threat, and escapes, and hides in a cave.

Here the anointed King - in hiding, humiliated, fearful for his life, broken.

We think...what reason does he have to praise God - yet that is exactly what he does. And he urges us us to do the same

Why he writes this psalms. He wants us to know why he rejoices, that we may rejoice with him - shares experience = for us too.

“Acrostic with missing Vav” “Broken psalm for broken people

Empathy: Need to hear this psalm today - don’t always feel like praising God. We need truth that faces reality and speaks into it. That helps us deal with heartbreak, and sees us through it.

We need this Psalm. How can we experience goodness in all circumstances in a way that doesn’t try and hide reality, but leaves us with a reason to rejoice?

How can we truly experience “the good life”

Psalmist says to us today Those who view God rightly and trust him will experience joy and goodness.

David says do two things - and as we do we like him will have great reason to praise God in all circumstances.

Take refuge in God who delivers

Read v4. Discover in these verses is a God who delivers in a number of ways - but first and foremost David praise God for deliverance not from circumstances but from fear. Literally “Terror”

David taking refuge not in circumstances but in a God who is great.

David fear for his life - but as we read v5 sense more going on. Why is it there? See a greater sense of fear that just life. God’s anointed King - now on the run, hiding in cave - not just reputation, but perhaps he facing own sense of inadequacy before God. Let God down.

word ashamed also translates “abashed” carries shame, humiliation, confusion, distress. If David focuses on situation - weighed down by it, fear crushing - left utterly ruined.

Perhaps thats where you are today. Maybe a circumstance left you broken. Maybe sin weighing heavily on you. Maybe something is making you fearful and its crippling you.

What David is showing us that as we look to ourselves, or our situation, our context - we soon find there is no safe place to go.

But its not where he leaves us - not where he remained. That despair is not the end of his experience. Read v2b-5.

What he is saying is as we take refuge in God - there we find the only safe place.

David says “I sought God” v5, those who look to him v6 “this poor man called” v7. Where does David go? For his ultimate joy, identity, safe place, good? Where does he take his refuge - In God.

David has experience first hand that their is no safety anywhere other than with a perfect creator God.

Rather than looking for safe place in his ability to cope, his will power, strength of character of situation - he finds it in the unchanging and glorious character of his God. Just in these verses he remembers him for us as a deliverer v4, a protector v5-7, a refuge and provider v8-10, as one who listens and is present v15-18 as one who comforts and redeems.

Why he takes refuge. Why he urges us in v8 READ v8.

He has tasted and seen, he has experienced blessing of taking refuge. Urges us to do the same.

Have you tasted that the Lord is good?

If you aren’t sure then perhaps you are hear and you aren’t a Christian, or maybe you have forgotten the sweetness found in the good news of Jesus.

Might be that brokenness has robbed your joy. Story of gospel

Broken world - broken by sin - hearts broken by our sin - rebellion against the God who made us, and because of it however hard we seek refuge we find no safe place. Worse - enemies of God which means by our own deserving, there is no hope of safe place. Left to ourselves we are destined to a fruitless search for safety and pease, destined to eternity separated from him.

But sweetest taste of found in the good news of Jesus. At Easter we celebrated a pivotal moment in history. READ v18. In Jesus God stepped down into brokenness, into the mess, into place of no safety to be our safety. V19 speaks ultimately of him. The only perfectly righteous one, who experienced the fiercest fo trouble - killed by the ones he came to rescue, punished for our sin, killed on the cross - but his bones were not broken. (Explain?) Then in victory he rose from death, conquering it and beating Satan, destroying shame. - to offer safe place to those who will take refuge in him. And if Satan is defeated whom shall we fear. If death is beaten what is there left to be afraid of. If Sin is dealt with, what shame is left to crush us.

Let him become safe place. Let me ask you again - have you tasted and seen the the Lord is good. Like Cocoa farmers, bit of piece of choc for first time and experienced sweetness, joy brings.

Unbeliever: yet to taste - urge - discover in scripture. Cry out to God, talk to Christian. Or if you have been thinking about it - take that step today - make Jesus your refuge.

Believer - maybe need to taste sweetness again. Reflect on the gospel. Reflect on character of God. Open his word and discover him. Pray to him.

Don’t just examine (refer to choc) but taste. As you open scripture don’t just examine looking for information. Ask God to show you his character.

Here is thing: What God is not promising easy life. Quick fix - a refuge now - world is broken. Offering much better - himself. He is the refuge.

Want us to learn to make him our refuge. Which means sometimes he will calm the storm, but more often he will let the storm rage and instead calm his children, so that increasingly know he is enough, all the time preparing us for that glorious day.

When he will return and put all things right, and our joy will be made complete. V22. One day will deliver us from all our troubles forever.

In all circumstances lets focus in or out, looking for safety where none can be found. Lets look up - and find our refuge in God, who is greater than any fear, and will one day deliver from any trouble.

What will it look like to take refuge?

Fear God who pours out his goodness

Striking contrast between two types of fear. 2 different words

Where as in v4 find sense of terror in v9 find sense of reverence and awe - acknowledgement of almighty power yet also feeling of comfort in it.

Was we rightly understand who God is - perfectly Holy, all powerful all knowing - there should be a sense of fear and awe. He is the creator and we are created. He is limitless and we are limited. It means remembering that he is perfect and a just judge, and that the smallest of sin is an offence against him, a denial of his rule. It should in some ways make us tremble with fear - except for this: Unlike the Saul’s and Abimeleks who only wanted David dead or gone. In God we find a God of justice and love, a God who offers to rescue and protect and wants what is truly GOOD.

A God who calls to himself a people - he wants a relationship with us.

Isn’t that amazing v9. Fear the Lord - You his holy people. When we put our trust in Jesus, we become children of God, a people of God, in an intimate relationship with the God who loves us. The one who laid it all down for us.

And for us his people he wants what is truly good. Read all of v9.

The great lie: To be Christian is to miss out on the good stuff. That real fun/good is found outside of God, and that God is a bit of a killjoy, so its only as we let go of him will start to experience excitement/happiness.

That’s what we’re told - very essence of sin - believe a lie that God is not good. But when we seek to enjoy life outside of him, we soon find that even what is good turns to ruin.

David says fear God. Recognise, acknowledge him as creators, sustainer, ruler. That he is perfect and Holy and just, and loving - and realise that he knows what is best. As we recognise him as source of all good, reverently fear him - trust him. We will find we lack no good thing. As we let him define what is good for us. Then experience true enjoyment of what he gives us.

V10. Picture of lion. Contrast. Lion - most self sufficient of beasts. - yet still goes hungry. But for one not self sufficient but trusting in God - lack no good thing.

Because he is a good good Father, and we his dearly loved children., and he intimately cares for us - he understands our needs. He listens to our prayers and comes close. He sends his Spirit to live inside us and take our deepest needs to the throne.

Read v15v18 How incredible to know that in the brokenness, when we feel broken hearted and crushed in Spirit - he is close. He hears us and rescues us.

What does it look like to fear God? V11-14.

Reads like a proverb - wisdom teaching. David says “I will show you the fear of the Lord”. He says look v12, I assume you love life, yes, I assume you want many good days yes?”

Here’s what it looks like to fear the Lord. And he gets practical. Really important. Its impossible to taste and see that the Lord is good and remain unchanged. Impossible as we acknowledge who God is, creator sustainer, ruler - and giver of all good, not to let our lives be completely affected by it.

Why would we keep searching for safety where none can be found when he has offered us safety. Why would we continue to look for joy in things that offer none, when he makes our hearts leap?

What is our response an almighty God who is infinitely good and loving towards us? David addresses our speech and our action.

v13. The reason he talks about our mouths is because from bad experiences come bad words, deceitful words. When we let Satan and the world lie to us about what is good - it is shown in our speech.

Garden - believed lie about God - told lie to Adam. Articulated it.

How often our speech communicates view of the heart. So David says watch your speech. What lies are you telling yourself and others about God? Fearing God means letting him tell you who he is and accepting it, not letting circumstance or sin corrupt.

And in our action we’ll become those who increasingly, daily turn from evil and do good. World says I’m out for number 1, and do whatever it takes to be happy. But as we find our refuge in God, as we taste his goodness daily, as we find everything we need in him, by His Spirit he frees us to go and do good. Good news of Jesus is a message of generousity. God sharing his goodness with the world. And as we taste and experience it, we’ll share it. Cocoa farmer after tasting wanted all his friends to do the same - he wanted them to experience the joy.

Read v14b peace = “well-being” - just as we experience it - we;;-being through having peace with God, having him as our refuge, no longer will we feel the need to trample over each other, but instead will look out for each other’s well being.

God is the only safe place. With him is true and lasting good. Have you tasted and seen that Lord is good. Will you taste and see it afresh today. In every circumstance will you reflect on his unchanging character, and let him bring you to a deep felt joy. Even in the midst perhaps of sadness. But knowing you have nothing to fear you life is well safe in his hands. And as you daily, weekly taste that he is good, let him transform your life to be one lived out of reverent fear. That you may enjoy the very best offers, and bring others to enjoy it too.

Maybe you are here today feeling guilt - perhaps overwelmed by sin. Take refuge in God who covers your shame. Who through his Son has removed all condemnation and gives you a fresh start.

Maybe you are here and temptation feels heavy in front of you. DOn’t listen to the lies. Spend some time crying out to God, don’t listen to the lies. God is your only safe place, and he is the source of all goodness. Ask him to give you a taste afresh of how good he is.

Maybe you are just feel abashed, beaten low, fearful. Delights in the Lord, fear him, for he who fears the Lord lacks no good thing. Ask the God who is close to give you comfort and help you to trust him - because he is good all the time, and can deliver you from fear, and look forward to that day when he will make joy complete forever.

Lets with David extol the Lord at all times. Let his praise be always on lips, let us glory, delight in the Lord, let us who are afflicted, humbled, broken hear and rejoice. Let me pray and then let us exalt his name together.

Heavenly Father mighty God. We come to you in the name of your beautiful Son, by his blood. We join the angels around your throne in praising you. God you are Holy, you are beautiful, you are worthy, - worthy of all our praise and adoration. Lift our gaze as as you Lord. You are our help, our refuge, our strong hold, you shall never be shaken.

You are our comfort, our provider. Father, Spirit, Son we love you. Who is there like you , God - no one. No one is like you. No one can compare to you. You are Glorious in holiness, mighty in doing wonders. You are everlasting - the beginning and end. You are awesome. You measure the heavens by the span of your hand. Nations are but a drop in a bucket before you. With your breath you command al things. You are mighty and glorious . Lord lift our eyes today. Lord let us taste and see that you are good. All the time. Let us experience your goodness afresh. Let us be again amazed by your Son Jesus and his death and resurrection. Let us be blown away by your grace. Let us dwell in your light, there is no darkness in you. Let us trust in your goodness, for in you there is no impurity. Lord help us to reverently fear you and take refuge in you in all circumstances. In the brokenness let us not listen to the lies but hold firm in the truth, let us turn our tongues from evil, our lips from lies, let us turn from evil and do good. Lord by your Spirit transform and change us. Lord we want what is good, we want to see many good days. Lord help us to find it in you alone.

In Jesus glorious name.

Amen.