Hope for Every Season

Hope for Every Season

A journey through Psalm 34

Message 6

The Lord Redeems

Psalm 34:19-22

David Experienced God

What it has taught us.

We began with how to find hope in every season of life.

Then he taught that the Lord hears and fights for us.

Then we learned that we get a taste of the Lord and experience the Spirit of God for ourselves

Then last week we were taught that is hope for the brokenhearted.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV) — 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 NIV

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Notice the word “but.”

Psalm 34:19 (NIV) — 19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

Psalm 34:19 NIV

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

This taught us…

Trouble may be part of my story, but trouble does not get the final word.

Let’s dig even deeper.

A bit of review but I want to lay the ground for the last couple of verses.

The Lord Delivers Us

Following God does not exempt us from trouble.

Notice it says “many troubles”

“Faithfulness to God is not a guarantee of an easy life.”

Matter of fact the opposite is true.

Being obedient to God can also cause us problems

Trouble does not mean God has abandoned us.

How do you interpret your problems?

Punishment? Abandonment?

David has a different view.

Our Lord is always present.

Our confidence is in the Lord's deliverance.

Sometimes God delivers us from the trouble.

Sometimes God delivers us through the trouble.

Hope says: “This trouble is real, but it is not final.”

The greatest hope is heaven

The Lord Protects Us

No broken bones

Psalm 34:20 (NLT) — 20 For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Psalm 34:20 NLT

For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Interesting verse

I don’t know you ever had a broken bone…

Let’s break it down.

Verse 18

Psalm 34:18 (NLT) — 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18 NLT

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

God cares about our souls and our spirits.

“For the LORD protects” v:19

Protect = “means to guard diligently”

God also cares about the physical body.

Why the righteous suffer.

God is not claiming that the righteous will not suffer physically

David suffered at the hands of King Saul.

Job suffered the most righteous man on earth at the time.

Illnesses, accidents, and diseases affect us all.

Some believers suffer permanent handicaps and disabilities.

Unless the Lord returns we all gonna die.

Here our hope

Nothing happens to the righteous outside of God’s supervision.

It means that our lives remain in God's hands.

Throughout life, He protects us from physical harm, dispatching His angels and orchestrating circumstances in ways we are not aware of.

When we are afflicted, He is with us.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:1–8 says we live in earthly tents (temporary houses).

These bodies grow weary. That we groan and sign.

But someday heave will be our home.

Evil Does Not Get the Last Word

For a moment, evil can appear to win.

Psalm 34:21 (NASB 2020) — 21 Evil will bring death to the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.

Psalm 34:21 NASB 2020

Evil will bring death to the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.

You don’t have to look long to far to the evil in the world.

We see suffering

They seem to be getting away with it.

There is a Judge

We do not have to seek revenge.

We do not have to settle every score.

Evil is going to win some battles

But will win the war.

The Lord Redeems Us

The grand finale

The icing on the cake

It’s our glorious blessing

David cries in fear v:4

Then celebrates being rescued.

This points us to the cross.

We have been rescued from our sins.

We have been redeemed.

Yes trouble and sin still plague us.

Those things are our training grounds.

Our proving grounds.

Our refuge is not a place — our refuge is a Person.

A faithful God.

When trouble comes — He delivers.

When we feel vulnerable — He protects.

When evil seems to win — He will judge.

When we are guilty and helpless — He redeems.

And when we need somewhere to run —

He is our refuge.

The seasons change.

Our God does not.