Day 202: Psalm 34- God Rescues

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. 21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
 
Meditation
This Psalm is oxygen for those asphyxiated with anxiety. Breathe in the promises of God and exhale invitation to others.
 
David celebrates God’s salvation and invites others to praise the Lord, to taste the goodness of God’s salvation (8). God delivers from trials and troubles (19). God will keep safe (20), defeat enemies (21), and redeem all who take refuge in Him (22). God’s promises will sustain you in struggle.
 
Worship is the right response to Divine rescue! Praise for the Lord’s salvation comes out of our mouth (1), from our soul (2), in gladness and community (3).  
 
The life of those redeemed offer life through invitation. The promises through the passage offer hope:
 
Seek the Lord and He will answer (4), look to the Lord and be radiant like a mom whose face lights up seeing her children (5). Cry to the Lord and He will hear you, save you, and deliver you (6). God promises to protect you with His angels (7).
 
The invitation is for all who believe- Taste and see the Lord is good! Find blessing by carrying your burdens to Him (8). Fear the Lord and He will provide (9), lacking no good thing when you seek Him (10).
 
The eyes of the Lord see you. The ears of the Lord hear your cry (15). The face of the Lord is against His enemies (16). The Lord is near the broken hearted and saves those crushed in spirit (18). God delivers from trouble when we turn to Him (17).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you struggling with anxiety of unanswered questions and uncertainty? Where do you turn for perspective and power?

-Which Divine promises, articulated in this invitational testimony of David, resonates most with you?
 
-Worship from our soul through our mouth, with our lives, is a right response to the Lord’s salvation. Is your life worship to him?
 
Key Verse
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!