Psalm 34 | Taste and See that the Lord is Good July 3, 2016 at Northwest Presbyterian Church
Taste and See That the LORD Is Good Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. [1] 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, Sermons | Northwest Presbyterian Church Sermon Notes -‐‑ Psalm 34.docx, Page 1 of 5
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.
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1. Psalm 34 is an invitation to a personal experience of God, not listening to another’s story of God’s goodness and provision, but to experience his grace for one’s self. 2. There are several Psalms that are written after a particular historical event in the life of David. This Psalm, 34, was written in light of the rescue that the Lord had provided him from King Achish in Gath, the land of the Philistines. 3. 1 Sam 22 recounts that his brothers and is father’s house heard it, they came to him, many came and hid with him: the poor, indebted, destitute and embittered (1 Sam 22:1-‐2). These men knew adversity and trouble in their lives. 4. He might be looking around at these men in the cave with him, considering his story and theirs and writing these words, this words of accolade of the Lord, his praise of God in all circumstances and at all times (v. 1-‐2)! 5. Four sections in the psalm, which not only is it the structure for the psalm, but a good template for how we can worship the Lord together and celebrate all that he has done for us: § His Invitation (1-‐3) § His Declaration (4-‐7) § His Exhortation (8-‐14) § His Salvation (15-‐22) 6. Psalm 34 text 7. 1. His Invitation (vv. 1-‐3) David opens the psalm in first person worship, and invites the congregation to sing with him of the Lord’s majesty. The psalms were written to lead the congregation in worship. These psalms are God’s Words, Yahweh gave these words to lead us in how we might enjoy and magnify him. 8. David says no matter what my circumstance, no matter where I am, I will extol the Lord and sing of his praise (v. 1). It is the desire of his heart to sing out his passion for the Lord, whether his circumstances are good or bad… 9. Enthralled with the Lord, his Lord, his God and Savior, David admonishes those reading to do the same, the join other voices in praise. 10. Every day, as people awake to present themselves to God in worship, declaring his greatness, goodness, majesty and perfections and sharing with others. 11. 2. His Declaration (vv. 4-‐7) David declares to the congregation, “Everyone, worship with me, this is what happened to me and I want you to know how great he is and how he took care of me!” Sermons | Northwest Presbyterian Church Sermon Notes -‐‑ Psalm 34.docx, Page 3 of 5
12. Comparing David’s condition and the Lord response: David: Fearful, Poor, Troubled, Endangered, Broken-‐hearted, Crushed spirit, Lacking, Seeking The Lord: Protects, Helps, Keeps, Redeems and Saves, Hears and Answers, Near, Refuge, Pardons (no condemnation) 13. God is near enough at hand, interested enough to listen, loving enough to respond, and strong enough to meet the need of those who fear him. 14. God in his perfections is set in stark contrast to the condition of man. His light shines bright in the course of history and in our personal lives. It is true in David’s life and in our lives. 15. David declares: I cried out, he answered me; I was poor, the Lord inclined to me; I was lacking, the Lord provided; I was afflicted, the Lord delivered; I was fearful, the Lord defended and rescued; I was troubled, the Lord saved; I was crushed, the Lord kept me. 16. In his poetic structure, David’s contrasting words raise up the Lord in worship, God is seen to be magnificent! That an awesome, all-‐powerful, all-‐knowing God inclines himself to the poor and destitute 17. 3. His Exhortation (vv. 8-‐14) After the declaration of God’s activity in his life, David wants the worshipers to have first-‐hand experience of the goodness of the Lord. 18. Matthew Henry Commentary, Psalm 34: “We must taste that he is a bountiful benefactor, relish the goodness of God in this gifts to us, and reckon that the savor and the sweetness of them. Let God’s goodness be rolled under the tongue as a sweet morsel. We must see that he is a beautiful being, and delight in the contemplation of his infinite perfections…” The goodness of the Lord is something to savor and relish. He wants the worshiper to look at God and all his glory and savor! 19. David exhorts the congregation to “fear the Lord.” 20. Living out the “fear of the Lord” – to seek his glory out of reverence for his holiness and power, and to obey his Word. 21. It is in his affliction that David is most sensitive to the Lord, his heart is tender to be obedient to what God is doing and what God would have him do. 22. 4. His Salvation (15-‐22) The psalm magnifies the Lord for his saving work. More than feeling happy that God is in control in the things of this world is the assurance that he is working now and always for our good, into eternity.
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23. There is no promise that faith in God would make things get easier, or we’d be more prosperous, or all our trials would go away. There is no promise that we would be protected from all pain, or that we’d be insulated from sin and its ravaging effects on our lives and others 24. The psalm finishes in the tone of Romans 8: a. a.) faithfulness in suffering, b. b.) all things working together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called, c. c.) the redemption of our lives d. d.) no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 25. God does not turn his eyes from his children who need him. He does not abandon them to their afflictions. We will face trials and troubles of course, but those who fear the Lord will lack no good thing. 26. Application: a. Worship the Lord b. Tell your story to others c. Consider your life d. Taste and See:
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