Psalm 34

Introduction

Have you ever confided in someone with sensitive and quickly realized you trusted the wrong person to help you?

When I was in high school, I wanted to attend prom with a girl from my class so I asked my friend to set me up since he knew her. What I didn’t know was that he was interested in her as well so he ended up convincing her to go to prom with him instead. They won prom king and queen. Talk about depression.

However, is God like that? Does he just ignore our requests and does not care about our circumstances? Is he Egotistic like my friend was? No, quite the opposite.

Amidst trouble, God, he hears, delivers, and uplifts his people

David’s Experience (Psalm 34:1-7)

David’s Encouragement (Psalm 34:15-22)

David’s Exhortation (Psalm 34:8-14)

David’s Experience (Psalm 34:1-7)

Context of the Psalm: David fled his country as he was being hunted down by Saul the king of his homeland, he hid in the land of the Philistines enemy territory. The enemy king brings him to his presence to see if he is a spy or a danger to his land so David acts like a madman.

He proclaims that he will bless the Lord at all times. Why?? (v1-7)

1) He sought and cried out to the Lord, the Lord answered him and delivered him!

Friends, when was the last time that you desperately cried out to the Lord?

I can tell you mine. It was March 2020, I had a 104* fever, pain all over my body, and bloody urine. I was rushed to the hospital and was in isolation. It was during the pandemic so they thought it was COVID. However, it was not. (Show picture) I cried out to God constantly during this time. After many painful tests they found out it was a virus that was attacking my spleen and told me that if I would have lifted 15 pounds my spleen could have ruptured and I would have died.

Friends, whatever situation you found yourself in God is not like the nurses that attended to me. He not afraid to reach out into your mess. He will not leave you in isolation!

Which is why David encourages us that God is near the broken hearted and those filled with all matter of anxiety!

David’s Encouragement (Psalm 34:15-22)

The Lord is near the brokenhearted & crushed in spirit and delivers them (v15, 17, 19, 22)

The text shows that “many” are the afflictions of the righteous. Those who stand by God’s word regardless of what the world thinks or feels!

There is a bakery near Loysville PA called“Oh Taste & see Delight” Their motivation for their bakery was this Psalm. They wanted people to taste good sweets and see Jesus. However, if you look at their google reviews it is filled with comments like this

“Shameful cake. Tastes like hate and crumbs of bigotry.”

“They refuse to serve LGBTQ”

“Would not recommend. Discriminate people, not a good person nor business”

They were not being discriminatory they were following their convictions of not making a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage. This organization has received many death-threats as well solely because they stood by their convictions.

2. God opposes those who do Evil (v16, 21)

David’s Exhortation (Psalm 34:8-14)

Take Refuge in the Lord (v8)

Fear the Lord (v9)

Why?—> Have no lack

How does it look like?

3. Turn away from Evil and do good (v13, 14)

Application:

1. When you face troubles and difficulties, who do you run to for deliverance? (Friends, family, yourself?) Run to the Lord

2. The Psalmist talks about taking refuge in God. Think about how you can take refuge in God this week. (Prayer walks/drives, spending time in God’s word reading and praying through the Psalms).