Encourage Others
Post written from a sermon preached by Dr. Ken Burkett. To listen to his sermon, click here.
A study of Psalm 34
This is the last post in our study on David as he is fleeing King Saul. King Saul is determined to kill David, so David leaves and becomes a fugitive to preserve his life. In time he finds himself alone in a cave in the wilderness. For the first time in David’s life, we are told he is afraid. In effect, he has now lost his job, wife, home, spiritual advisor, and his best friend. David desperately needs God’s comfort at this time. How will he find it? What will it involve? What are the ramifications of this? The answers are in the Psalms that David composes at this time. Today we look at Psalm 34.
The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God
A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
Psalm 34
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
How David invites us to encourage others:
- He invites us to join him in praise. vs. 1-3
- He cites his own experience. vs. 4-7
- He invites us to trust and fear the Lord. vs. 8-10
- He teaches us how to trust and fear the Lord. vs.11-14
- He assures us of God’s care for us. vs. 15-22