I. Read Psalm 34.
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. New International Version (NIV)
Introduction – This psalm contains a mixture of ideas, but there are a couple of key themes that run throughout. First, times of trouble come. Second, seek the Lord in these times of trouble. Third, He will answer our cries for help in these times of trouble. Have you ever faced a time of overwhelming trouble? If you have not, chances are very good that you will. This is life. Maybe you or a person you love will suffer a tragic situation. Probably you have heard someone say to another person who was suffering, “it will be alright.” The good news is that this is very simply the way it is for those of us who belong to Him. In our very worst moments, we can cry out to Him and He will look at us and comfort us with the truth that it will in fact be alright. This is not a comfort available to the rest of the world. They have only fate, often cruel fate, to count on things working out. As we learn to trust Him in the small problems of life this builds us up and prepares us to trust Him in the larger issues of life.
Answer these questions as means to reflect on Psalm 34:
- In what ways does the psalm describe trouble?
- How does the psalm describe the responses of David to trouble?
- What trouble do you or could you possibly face in life? What is your worst fear?
- In what ways could you respond as David did? What would it look like in your behaviors?
II. Pray Psalm 34. Use David’s prayer in this psalm to pour our your heart to Him prayer. Let Him know those things that trouble you and commit yourself to trust Him with this. Let Him know your worst fears and commit yourself to trust Him come what may. Write out this prayer in your own words.
III. Sing Psalm 34 using this metrical arrangement. It can be sung to the tune of “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.”
| 1 I will give laud and honor both unto the Lord always; My mouth also for evermore shall speak unto his praise. 2 I do delight to praise the Lord,in soul, ill heart, in voice,That humble men may hear thereof,and heartily rejoice.3 Therefore see that ye magnifywith me the living Lord;
Let us exalt his holy Name always with one accord. 4 For I myself besought the Lord, he answered me again, And me delivered speedily From all my fear and pain. 5 Whoso they be that him behold, shall see his light most clear; Their countenance shall not be dashed, they never need to fear. 6 The poor distressèd man for help unto the Lord doth call, Who doth him hear without delay, and rid him out of thrall. 7 The angel of the Lord doth pitch his tents in ev’ry place, To save all such as do him fear, that nothing them deface. 8 Taste, and consider well therefore, that God is good and just! O happy man, that maketh him his only stay and trust! 9 O fear the Lord, all ye his saints, who is a mighty King; For they that fear the living Lord, are sure to lack nothing. 10 The lions shall be hunger-bit, and pined with famine much; But as for them that fear the Lord, no lack shall be to such. The Second Part. 11 Come near to me, my children, and unto my words give ear; I will you teach the perfect way, how ye the Lord shall fear. 12 Who is the man that would live long, and lead a happy life? See thou refrain thy tongue and lips from all deceit and strife. 13 Turn back thy face from doing ill, and do the godly deed: Inquire for peace and quietness, and follow it with speed. 14 For why? the eyes of God above upon the just are bent; His ears likewise to hear the cry of the poor innocent. 15 But he doth frown, and bend his brows upon the wicked train, And cuts away the memory that should of them remain. 16 But when the just do call and cry, the Lord doth hear them so, That out of pain and misery forthwith he lets them go. 17 The Lord is ever nigh to them that broken-hearted are, And for the contrite spirit he salvation doth prepare. 18 Full many be the miseries that righteous men endure; But of deliv’rance from them all the Lord doth them secure.
19 The Lord doth so preserve and keep their very bones alway, That not so much as one of them doth perish or decay. 20 The sin shall slay the wicked man which he himself hath wrought; And such as hate the righteous man shall soon be brought to nought. 21 But they that fear the living Lord are ever safe and sound; And as for those that trust in him, nothing shall them confound. |
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31 Days with God 