Psalm 34:7-8 - Part 3 – Angelic Protection And Deliverance, Plus Taste And See Series

PSALM 34:7-8 - PART 3 – ANGELIC PROTECTION AND DELIVERANCE, PLUS TASTE AND SEE

We are looking at this amazing Psalm today and continuing our thoughts from last time.

For those new, this is an alphabetic Psalm, that is, each new thought begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These thoughts are made into verses (stanzas) in our English bibles. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet so there are 22 verses in the Psalm.

David gives his testimony in this Psalm, but he draws in the people to the great truths he found in the LORD. The verses alternate – David speaking of himself, THEN “us” or “plural” referring to the people who are believers. We will now read the first 8 verses –

{{Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear it and rejoice.”

Psalm 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:5 They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!}}

The verses where David speaks of himself are 1-2, 4, 6. The verses that include the people, the believers, are 2-3, 5, 7-8. In the last message we stopped at verse 6, so I now want to comment on verses 7 and 8.

[1] ANGELIC PROTECTION AND DELIVERANCE

{{Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.”}}

This is a very powerful and reassuring verse. I think it is easy to forget the part angels play in ministering to us. They certainly do, but some ministers and pastors overlook the fact and neglect this great truth; some dismiss it. For a moment we will consider two verses – {{Hebrews 1:13-14 “To which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”}}

I like to cite an example that happened to me more than once. I used to do a lot of wood chopping then I was a kid and in my teens because we had a slow combustion wood stove. I recall on a couple of occasions that the axe head glanced swiftly off the wood and rushed past my leg just missing my shin. In fact, the thought came to me later on that the axe was directed away miraculously. In some of the serious falls I have had from ladders and in the rainforests, it was like a protection was around me even though I did have some damage to myself. I was wonderfully delivered.

We will look at a few verses here – On the occasion of Jesus’ temptation where the devil misapplied an Old Testament verse of angelic protection, at the end of all that we read – {{Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left Him, and behold, ANGELS CAME AND BEGAN TO MINISTER TO HIM.”}} Does the same happen to us today, or are we supposed to look to the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter? I truly believe it applies to both. The truth of Psalm 34:7 is still applicable.

If our eyes could be opened we’d see the air around us teeming with evil spirits but they can do us no harm. Satan and his demon hosts might be the spirits of the air {{Ephesians 2:2 “in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”}} but we are surrounded by the Lord’s powerful and ministering angels.

Regarding the verse Satan tried quoting, it is here found in {{Psalm 91:10-12 “No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS. They will bear you up in their hands lest you strike your foot against a stone.”}} That is the 100% pure word of God. What the devil did was to adulterate the verse. Here is what is recorded – {{Matthew 4:6 and said to Him, “IF You are the Son of God throw Yourself down for it is written, ‘HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU’, and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’”