[the Hymn] I. The Praise To God. (Vs. 1-3) Series

Mirth is not a word we use everyday -- it simply means Joy or Laughter, Happiness.

Hebrew: sim·khä' -- mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure; joy (of God)

Interesting enough is the Companion passage of 1 Sam 21 -- Let me summarize; with an encouragement for you to read (1 Sam 20-21 with Psalm 34)

David finds out, from Johnathan (Saul’s Son) that Saul means to do him harm and kill him, so David flees, he doesn’t even go to his house to get his things.

His first stop: NOB to visit the Priest Ahimelech -- he takes the Show Bread and the Sword of Goliath.

Doeg the Edomite: see him and eventually reports to Saul and later kills 85 priest only Abiathar escapes.

Then David flees to Gath (What is so interesting about this passage)

The Sword of Goliath -- This is where David’s rise to prominence began...Samual had already anointed him King in from of his Family.

He is fleeing to Gath (Where Goliath was from and Capital of the Philistines) From one Enemy Saul to another King Achish.

From there He would flee to the Cave of Adullam.

During this Crisis….this Great Psalm was penned. Out of Trouble came a Triumph! This is a brief overview and context in which this Psalm was written and the revelation to David about God’s Sovereignty over his situation.

Ps 34 “The Happiness of those who Trust in God” There are TWO divisions of this Psalm (Vs. 1-10 are a Hymn, while verses 11-22 are a Sermon)

I. [THE HYMN] The Praise to God. (vs. 1-3) David begins his discourse with Praise unto his God.

A. He (David) is PURPOSEFUL about His Praise. “I will bless the Lord at all times,”

Our praise to the Lord need to be purposeful, when I say purposeful...I mean, it’s not something I’m doing on the side or in conjunction with something else.

I.e. I’m going to church to make some business contacts, or going to meet some girls or looking for a Husband. Not even; I’m going because I like the Pastor.

“I WILL” bless the Lord -- a verb denoting the (imperfect) tense of bä·rak' -- The imperfect expresses an action, process or condition which is incomplete.

It is for this purpose I have come...something I intend on doing yet have not yet completed.

I WILL…..Not someone else do it for me.

During the Triumphal entry of Jesus they were shouting Hosanna! Remember the exchange with the Pharisees and Jesus?

(Luk 19:39-40 NKJV) And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

I will bless the Lord -- My response is...and So will I, I’m not going to let someone else do it for me.

(Jhn 4:23-24 NKJV) "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God [is] Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Second part of our First Point.

B. He (David) is PERPETUAL in His Praise. “His praise shall continually” be in my mouth”

Tä·med' -- carries the same Ideal as the continual light in the tabernacle, or the show bread being continually upon the altar, the Apostle Paul saying: “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17)

The Holy Spirit reminds me to be careful of the way I use the Names of God..not to be loose with my use of the Beautiful, Wonderful, Holy Name of Jesus!

I won't’ spend to much time on this point, because people will start dropping like flies.

(Eph 4:29 NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Listen to what Jesus said: (Mat 12:34-37 NKJV) "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

C. He is PRETENTIOUS about his Praise. (vs. 2) “ My soul shall make its boast in the Lord”

He is pretentious in that David is BY FAITH laying claim not in man or his ability to do anything but sharpening his Focus on the Lord.

The Apostle Paul made a similar statement: (Gal 6:14 NKJV) But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.