Turning Your Cave Into A Cathedral! (Part 1) Series

We are turning again to the book of Psalms for our encouragement and instruction today. Why?

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. -NIV

Jesus used the Psalms to explain Himself..

Luke 24:26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

The NT epistles tell us that we are to teach and admonish one another from them,,,

Colossians 3:16a Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms…KJV

Ephesians 5:19a Speak to one another with psalms -BSB

And that is what I will be using again today…Psalms is a song book, prayer book,

Acts 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

Psalm 146:6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- he remains faithful forever.

Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

And so anyway today we are again going to used this incredible book called The Psalms, that was composed probably by 8 authors over a span of nearly 1,000 years, that still remain timeless treasure to even to 21st century Christians for within it is a collection of relatable prayers, praises, complaints, and wisdom that is inspired by God to help instruct us on how we are to live!

Anyway our Psalm today is…Psalm 34 and notice the superscription placed upon this Psalm…

Psalm 34 (NIV)

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2 I will glory in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

We often can recall the years of our earthly pilgrimage, but the notable events that happened in that specific year. If I were to categorize the year that just expired, 2020, I will always remember it as the year of fear!

I don't believe that I am the only one. Fear, as legitimate as it may seem to us does have an adverse effect on our lives. I read a few articles this weeks that support this:

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Kaiser Family Foundation - The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use -Published: Feb 10, 2021- The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, a share that has been largely consistent, up from one in ten adults who reported these symptoms from January to June 2019 .

Is that something to be concerned about?

Time Magazine - Depression Has Skyrocketed During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Study Says BY JAMIE DUCHARME

Almost as soon as coronavirus lockdowns went into effect in March, discussion turned to mental health. It’s well-documented that natural disasters, wars and other mass traumas can lead to significant increases in population-wide psychological distress. Weeks or months of anxiety, fear, sadness and social isolation can take their toll, leading many experts to fear the U.S. would face a mental health epidemic at the same time it fights a viral pandemic.

And the fear is not age discriminatory…

Forbes Magazine- 25 Million Students On COVID-19: ‘Depression, Anxiety And Loneliness’ Hitting Peak Levels

20% of college students are more depressed.

11% are more anxious.

16% are more lonely.

COVID-19 has caused serious emotional challenges for young people. In fact, according to Wisdo, a peer-to-peer counseling community, “pandemic anxiety is almost three times more to this age group than any other stress-creating experiences pre COVID-19.”