PSALM 34:20-22 - PART 8 – DELIVERED AND KEPT; THE REDEEMED HAVE REFUGE IN THE LORD BUT THE WICKED ARE CONDEMNED
With this message we come to the end of this study in Psalm 34. I have obtained much blessing from the series I wanted to share in the 8 sermons.
[1]. UNDER 24 HOUR CARE
{{Psalm 34:20 “He keeps all his bones. Not one of them is broken.”}}
This verse does not stand in isolation but is married to the previous verse – {{Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”}} The idea is the theme of this Psalm, which is the deliverance of the LORD experienced by David in the course of his life, but very especially in regards to Achish, the Philistine Abimelech.
The blessed child of God is delivered so that not one of his bones is broken. That would mean the Lord delivered so well that the person came out of it unscathed. It hints at the unbelievable rescues today by Mossad where hostages are brought out unscathed.
A grazier or rancher keeps cattle or sheep but can not guarantee that every single one of them is preserved. There are wild animals and snakes and accidents in the paddocks and fields. The true shepherd guards his flock day and night, but again can not guarantee that in the course of a year, every single sheep is preserved and delivered from lurking dangers such as thieves or wolves.
However when it comes to the Chief Shepherd and the Good Shepherd and the LORD Shepherd, and the Shepherd of the sheep, every single animal is safe. Every single saint is safe in the Shepherd’s care. Not one bone will be broken. Not one sheep will be lost. Not one sheep will fall out of the Father’s hand.
Now along comes the skeptic who thinks he has you cornered and says, “I know many who say they are Christians but they are in trouble and have not been delivered. You talk rubbish.” Let us pass to 100 years in the future when all the skeptic’s generation has passed from the scene and let us take an inventory. It will show that every single saint (Christian, believer, sheep) is safe with the Lord Jesus Christ having been delivered through death – not one of them lost. Not one has a broken bone.
David’s deliverance was physical, but I am sure he realised that not everyone who trusted the LORD was delivered. One sad and cutting example was that of Uriah the Hittite, a godly man who fell victim to David himself and thus was not delivered.
There is a deliverance we look forward to very much. It is in this verse – {{Galatians 1:4 “who gave Himself for our sins THAT HE MIGHT DELIVER US OUT OF THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE according to the will of our God and Father”}}. The expression here is “out of” NOT “in”. Our true deliverance is not always in the world, but from the world, and into the glory of heaven.
This is a short quote from Barnes – [[“The language is of a general character, such as often occurs in the Scriptures, and it should, in all fairness, be so construed. It cannot mean that the bones of a righteous man are never broken, or that the fact that a man has a broken bone proves that he is not righteous; but it means that, as a general principle, religion conduces to safety, or that the righteous are under the protection of God.”]]
That might seem elementary, but scripture must be approached wholly, not in focussed parts. Through this psalm I have examined this matter of the righteous being delivered out of all his troubles. I will not cover that again – it is in several verses earlier in this study.
Why did David use the expression, “He keeps all his bones. Not one of them is broken?” The bones of the Passover lambs were never to be broken, and so CHRIST THE PASSOVER LAMB was preserved from that – {{John 19:36 These things came to pass that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN,”}}. Jesus was not delivered from the cross, but delivered up to the cross and delivered through suffering into resurrection.
Paul knew that deliverance was according to the will of God and that is where deliverance rests! {{Romans 15:30-31 “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, THAT I MAY BE DELIVERED from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints.”}}
[2]. THE WICKED WILL HAVE THEIR DAY OF COMPENSATION
{{Psalm 34:21 “EVIL shall slay the wicked and those who HATE the righteous will be CONDEMNED.”}}
We come to the final two verses of this wonderful chapter and these verses form a contrast. Verse 21 addresses the wicked haters, while verse 22 gives the promises for the redeemed of the Lord.
It is said there are two certainties in life, one of those being death. I think the other one is taxes but I can’t recall. As for death, the bible probably says more about death than it does about life. The soul that sins shall surely die, and that is the reason for physical and spiritual death.
However death is not the end of it all. It is quite remarkable how a wicked man dismisses any afterlife following death, and a very wicked man rejects the notion. It makes no difference though because God has declared this – {{Hebrews 9:27 “Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes JUDGEMENT ”}}. One does not believe in God; one does not believe in an accountable judgement.
I say an “accountable judgement” because every man and woman will be different in the judgement of the wicked. The one who committed lesser crimes/acts of unrighteousness will be punished with fewer stripes than the one who committed greater sins. That is a principle well set out in the bible – the penalty is commensurate with the act - and even Jesus alluded to it - Luke 12:47-48 “That slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive MANY LASHES, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but FEW. From everyone who has been given much shall much be required, and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”}}
The wicked will stand one day before the great white throne and their penalty will be announced. This is the true record of that time – {{Revelation 20:11-12 “I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them, and I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and THE DEAD WERE JUDGED FROM THE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS.”}}
One can not imagine what it will be like for the likes of Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong, the three greatest murderers in the history of mankind, the last being the worst. “Evil shall slay the wicked,” our verse says and the most horrible thing will come upon those who are wicked. Their own wickedness will kill them. You know, biblically, “the wicked” are not those arch criminals of society, but those who are not the righteous for there are only two camps. {{Psalm 1:6 “for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”}}
What a terrible shame that those who (according to the world’s moral standards) did “good” while on earth and lived what was perceived as upright lives, and were philanthropic, BUT never knew the salvation of the Saviour, what a shame they are counted with the very wicked, but they are. These are the ones who will receive just a few lashes in the lake of fire.
Be careful, you Christian, who talks self-righteously about the punishment for the wicked and saying they deserve what they get. Think about these verses for a moment – {{Ezekiel 3:17-18 “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”}} Yes, it is scary that we may not be pulling our weight as Christians. We have serious responsibilities but too often we sleep or leave it to others.
The second part of our verse is serious – “THOSE WHO HATE THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE CONDEMNED.” All through the history of the world the wicked hate the righteous. This is not a persecution complex, but a reality beginning with Cain who slew Abel because Abel’s righteousness condemned Cain’s unrighteousness. The wicked ones hate the good in God’s children and want to extinguish it.
Christians will always suffer hate in the world because the world is in Satan’s hands and his operatives are quick to persecute the righteous. As I write this the United States Vice-President, J D Vance, addressed a European forum of national and security leaders, and in a wonderfully excellent speech, he spoke of the rising persecution and actions against Christians in Europe. One of these he cited were the new laws in Scotland outlawing SILENT PRAYER in a person’s private home. It is illegal, and people are advised to dob others in. (I have not made a mistake there.)
This is J D Vance’s speech (one of the best I have ever heard from a political leader) and the part I am referencing is from 6:10 – 7:56 minutes into the speech. Those who hate Christians will try to charge them with “thought crimes”. Another reference is at 13:53 minutes. I think Christians should listen to the whole speech!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCOsgfINdKg
Those who hate the righteous will be condemned to the fires of the lake of fire because one thing God hates is the unjust treatment of His people, first to the Jew, and second to the members of the Church. It is no coincidence that there is a rise of international hate and persecution of both Jew and Christian in our day. The Lord WILL NOT tolerate it and it is one reason why the Church will be removed from the earth in the Rapture before the wrath of God descends on this earth in condemnation – {{1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “They themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who DELIVERS US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.”}} This is the deliverer.
Barnes noted – [[“Evil shall slay the wicked” - That is, his own wicked conduct will be the cause of his destruction. His ruin is not arbitrary, or the mere result of a divine appointment; it is caused by sin, and is the regular and natural consequence of guilt.”]]
[[“That hate the righteous”; that persecute them, and plot their ruin; which is an evidence that they hate them, whatsoever they may pretend to the contrary.]] (Poole). Some translations for the ending of verse 21 use “condemned” and suggest “guilty” there as well. They will be condemned, those who hate the righteous people, because they are guilty. Sometimes we see justice meted out to the most wicked here on earth, but it is often man’s flawed justice. God’s justice will be complete, and ALL unforgiven evil will have to be accounted for at the Great White Throne.
[3]. PERFECT UNCONDEMNED REFUGE IN THE LORD
{{Psalm 34:22 “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”}}
As I said at the start of verse 21, the final two verses go together much like the content of Psalm 1 and its ending – {{Psalm 1:6 “for the LORD knows the way of the RIGHTEOUS, but the way of the WICKED will perish.”}} This is the contrast all scripture makes; light and dark; good and evil; redeemed and wicked.
Psalm 34 is an Alphabetic Psalm, that is, all 22 verses in Hebrew begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet of 22 letters. Several of the Psalms are written that way.
Redemption, a deep New Testament concept, is a glorious thing. Picture this. You are standing as a condemned slave about to be sold to a wicked, hard task master and along comes a another man who redeems you at a very high price and then sets you free. Your gratitude is such that you vow to serve him; to remain with him always. That is a pale example of our redemption in Christ. The reason for redemption is love; the cost is the substitutionary death of the Redeemer; the verdict is no condemnation or penalty for eternity; the response . . . well what is that? The way some Christians live, their response to Christ is very poor. There should be the greatest gratitude in the hearts and souls of those who name the Name of Christ.
Redemption of a slave meant payment of silver, but the redemption of the soul was so much more – This addition is from BibleHub – [[The idea of redemption is woven throughout the Old Testament, often illustrated through the sacrificial system and the concept of a kinsman-redeemer. In Leviticus 17:11, it is stated, {{"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life."}} This verse highlights the necessity of a blood sacrifice for atonement, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.”]]
Atonement and Redemption are two great words locking our salvation into place. Both are through the priceless blood of Christ wrapped in the love of God. We must never under-estimate our redemption. That is why the early church remembered the Lord in the Lord’s Supper weekly and possibly even more in the agape feasts. The remembrance of Christ’s death is kept before us as we remember Him, but churches that disregard the frequency of the Lord’s Table are doing an injustice I think. We remember the Lord’s death until He comes, and to do that bi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, in my opinion is very poor.
Redemption is so important; I saw a small list of hymns that mention the word. It is a shame these modern egocentric, repetitive songs have replaced the grand hymns of substance. This is the limited list –
“Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great REDEEMER’S praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace.” (Charles Wesley)
“All glory, laud and honour to thee, REDEEMER, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.” (St Theodulph of Orleans, died 821 AD. Translator: J. M. Neale 1818-1866)
“Blessed REDEEMER, precious REDEEMER, seems now I see him on Calvary’s tree, wounded and bleeding for sinners pleading.” (Avis B. Christiansen 1920)
“Nor silver nor gold has obtained my REDEMPTION, nor riches of earth could have saved my poor soul. The blood of the cross is my only foundation, the death of my Savior now maketh me whole.” (James M. Gray)
William Cowper wrote the famous hymn “There is a Fountain.” The fourth verse goes like this: “E’re since by faith I saw the stream thy flowing wounds supply, REDEEMING love has been my theme, and shall be till I die: and shall be till I die, and shall be till I die; redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.”
Fanny Crosby wrote much about redemption. This is one we often sing, “Perfect REDEMPTION, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”
Another one goes like this: “REDEEMED and so happy in Jesus, no language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of his presence with me doth continually dwell. Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the lamb; redeemed, through his infinite mercy, his child and forever, I am.” (Fanny Crosby)
As we draw to a close for this beautiful Psalm, let us look again at the verse - {{Psalm 34:22 “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants and NONE OF THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM WILL BE CONDEMNED.”}}
What does it mean to take refuge in Him? Well the Psalms are full of this word “refuge”. David was fond of the word because he found its truth over and over and over. God is a refuge, a strong fortress, a Rock in weary places, a strong tower.
Taking refuge in the Lord is to come to Him and cast all your care on Him, and then rest in the shadow of His wings, or in the shadow of a mighty Rock (Isaiah 32:2 “and each will be like a refuge from the wind and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, lIKE THE SHADE OF A HUGE ROCK IN A PARCHED LAND.”) [AV is “shadow of a great rock in a weary land”]. Not one thing can ever separate you from the love of Christ because He holds you in His refuge. Those who come in repentance to claim the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and take refuge in Him will never be condemned because they are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and are eternally safe and secure in Him. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. We have transitioned from death to eternal life.
I will let Barnes have the final statement - [[“They shall not be held to be guilty; they shall not be punished. This is designed to be in contrast with the statement respecting the wicked in Psalm 34:21. The psalm, therefore, closes appropriately with the idea that they who trust the Lord will be ultimately safe; that God will make a distinction between them and the wicked; that they will be ultimately rescued from death, and be regarded and treated forever as the friends of God.”]]
AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VERSE IN THIS PSALM - Psalm 34:5 “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
AMEN!
