Being In Love With One Who Truly Cares! (Psalm 34:1-6) Series

MAKING MUSIC FROM SHARPS AND FLATS IN LIFE

Sermons Based on Selected Psalms

Psalms Sermon V – Psalm 34:1-6

David the shepherd lad who became King of Israel was a music maker. He played a harp – the most popular instrument in Old Testament times. The Book of Psalms is a collection of his compositions inspired by both his life experiences and his majestic moments with the Lord God.

As a sheep herder, the boy David became fascinated with the wonders of the out of doors even as he became familiar with the uniqueness of sheep.

As the one chosen by Samuel to be crowned the next king of Israel, David had no choice but to sharpen his defensive battle skills when Saul threatened his life; he had demonstrated his skills as a shepherd lad when he defended his sheep from the attack of wolves, and when he defended his family by killing their enemy Goliath with one stone fired by his slingshot.

David’s favor with God and the people worsened King Saul’s insanity, making him so blindly jealous that he made David the target of a relentless campaign to destroy the king-to-be.

David won the battle; but, more importantly, he won the hearts of the people because he had won the heart of the Lord God who had chosen him.

As king, David ruled righteously in accordance with God’s will; Israel enjoyed the golden years of their history during David’s reign.

Yet, as a man, David sinned; however, as a sinner, he was aware of his need for God’s forgiveness; as a forgiven child of God, he courageously accepted God’s punishment; as one who suffered the consequence of sinning against God, he also accepted the challenge of rebuilding his life for God.

As a Psalmist, David’s innermost thoughts - expressed in the verses of his poetry - have become the greatest collection of spiritual nuggets the world has ever known.

From a lifetime of positive and negative experiences, David has become our hero for making music out of the sharps and flats in life.

Any musician knows that it takes both to make good music. It takes the positives (the sharps) and the negatives (the flats). Arrange them in such a way that they blend into chords, orchestrate the chords into a harmonious melody, and what you get is a work of art that is pleasing to the ear.

Life is like that. The isolated sound of a sharp or the lonesome sound of a flat does nothing for the spirit. Get it all together in conformity with THE Great Composer’s divine plan for our lives, and what you have is harmonious living that is pleasing not only to God but to others as well.

These devotional messages, based on the Book of Psalms, are intended to draw from David’s orchestration of the sharps and flats in his life to help us make music from the sharps and flats in our own lives. Selah.

Psalm 34:1-6 . . .

David – the harpist – in Psalm 34 - continues to make music by blending the sharps and flats of life into a majestic hymn that is far more than a musical masterpiece. Taken together, the psalms provide spiritual nourishment for our souls.

The 34th Psalm is sort of like an orchestra made up of twenty-two instruments of inspiration.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

David knows the One to whom praise is due; and he is resolved to give God the glory always, in every situation, under every circumstance; he praises God on days of bright sunshine but also on days that are cloudy; he gives thanks to God when his days are filled with gladness but also when fear overtakes him at night.

At all times, the psalmist praises God and gives thanks to Him - not only in his heart but also by his words.

“My soul shall boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear and be glad.”

David had everything yet he said he really had nothing of his own to boast about. He admitted that he had a whole lot to lament over; yet, none of the stuff that had caused him grief would stop him from boasting in God for as long as he lived. His hope was that those who are humble would hear his words and be encouraged by them.

“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

David invites all humble folks to join with him in praising the Lord. Humility is not something we are born with. The opposite is true. We are born with a human nature that lends itself to pride – false pride – the kind of attitude toward oneself that fools us into thinking that we are so much better than anyone else.