A Study Of Psalm 34 Series

A Study of Psalm 34

Psalm 34

Introduction

- Wed night format; opportunity to study together from our homes

-- Ask questions if you’d like in the comments (during this time or later)

-- Re: Invite someone else to join in – not an exclusive study for “just us”

- Psalms broken into 5 books, cover an extensive time period

- Gathered together as songs of praise & words of encouragement/warning

- We are studying book 1, Psalm 1-41 … primary focus on David’s experience

- The Psalms have already given us plenty of opportunities to praise

-- The daily challenge for us is this: will we remember what we’ve seen/read?

- This Psalm was written when David was in hiding; surrounded by King Saul

-- He pleads with the Lord to rescue him; God answered and rescued

- This psalm expresses gratitude to God – something we all can do more of

-- EX: Imagine being outside tonight (it’s 30 degrees) … we can be grateful

- Read Psalm 34:1-22 / Pray

Point 1 – David Acknowledges and Testifies about God

• He is continuous (v1)

- Since He is everlasting, we have a never-ending opportunity to praise Him

-- David’s confession is that he will always praise God for who he is

• He is contagious (v2)

- When we praise, it can be very contagious

-- Praise has the opportunity to raise moods, change hearts, lift souls

-- God is the very definition of praise … He is too good to ignore

• He is communal (v3)

- As a body, we are encouraged to praise Him together … it draws us in

-- Honestly, life is isolated enough – at least in praise we can be unified

- God, in the same way, desires us to be brought together

-- Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Look at how David testifies about God:

• God delivered him (v4)

- David understands that his prayer was answered when he cried out to God

-- His life was filled with trauma; yet God heard/responded to him

• God delighted me (v5)

- Just meeting with God brings about happiness/hope

-- Those who spend time with Him are obvious – written on their face

-- Moses experienced this same thing; APP: God’s glory shines from those

• God defended me (v6-7)

o Out of my troubles; the poor man is David – he was rescued

o By the angel of the Lord; God provided the rescue

- V6 and 7 gives David opportunity to testify … “Look what God did!”

- APP: If we all would spend more time expressing gratitude; less for complaining

-- However, it means surrendering our control to Him – to place in His hands

- It is in this that we find our joy; when we see how powerful God is

- TRANS:

Point 2 – David provides wisdom for us

- David gives us some instruction that we can take and apply today

-- He uses simple commands that we can understand and apply to our life

• Taste the Lord (v8); experience what God can do for you

• Fear the Lord (v9); live with reverence towards Him

• Come to the Lord (v10); flee from the desires of what you want

• Turn from evil (v11-14); decide to not partake in things of wickedness

• Do good (v14); be intentional in how you live your life

- IMP: All of these costs NOTHING to do! They are all choices of how to live!

- But, you might ask, “Why would we do these things?”

-- Or … “Why would I want to give up the things I like for a godly life?”

- Answer: Because of who He is and what He can offer you!

• He sees (v15); the eyes of the Lord miss nothing that you do

• He hears (v15-17); when we cry out to Him, He hears and comforts us

• He rescues (v17-20); God alone has the power to save you from trouble

• He judges (v21); He fights for us … stands in the gap when enemy attacks

• He redeems (v22); He places us in a place of restoration

- The word redeem means (Heb. padah), “to ransom or rescue from great harm”

- This is exactly what God did for the Israelites (David is reminding them)

- Deuteronomy 7:8, “But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

- Deuteronomy 15:15, “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.”