Sunday 5 August 2001

Psalm 34

"They looked to him and were radiant"

This Psalm was penned in a most difficult time, when David was being hunted by Saul. See 1Sam 21:13 -. David free from bitterness but Saul consumed by it. See how Saul was sorry for himself (22:7&8) Saul looks to circumstances and has wrong end of stick; results in death of priests, but David looks to God and is radiant (or "lightenened"). Spurgeon says be lightened by seeing Christ (the face of God) in His life, death and resurrection.

Abimelech, was a term like Ceasar meaning my father the king, even though his actual name was Achish.

vs 2 "boast in the Lord" - all boasting is like a tube which will burst, but let it be in tyre and it will be secure. Thus, boast IN God and you are safe.

This Psalm is an invitation (see vs 8, "taste and see"). Other religions have the gods demanding to taste sacrifice but Christianity asks us to taste Him!

vs 11: What is the fear of the Lord? "To fear the LORD is to hate evil" (Proverb 8:13) and "through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil" (Proverb 16:6). When you fear Him you will not fear anything else (see Is 41: 10,13)

vs 17: "trouble" means to be tied up, restricted, limited, inhibited. That's what the wrong fears do to you.

The lesson for long life and seeing good: taste, fear, seek, come, listen, keep, turn, pursue. [These are the verses that are quoted in 1 Peter 3:8-12.]

vs 19: many afflictions but delivered (and vs 17): Like being passenger in plane with rough weather. Pilot knows and tells you to fasten your safety belt. There is assurance that someone knows more than you do - but some make themselves sick with worry.

Three steps to coping with fears (vs 4): admit it, commit it and forget it.

The Psalmist invites you to come, taste and see!

 Kjell Olsen