I love Psalm 34. It might become one of my new favorites. How about you?
On Day 5 we’ll take one last look at our Psalm for the week and invite the Spirit to speak to us through the Word. Clear your mind of distractions, and spend some time with your Father today.
Reflect
Read through the Psalm 34 one more time.
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.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
What do you find most moving in this Psalm? What section or verse speaks most to you? Consider memorizing it.
Connect
At the end of the week, as we meditate one more time on our Psalm, I always find my thoughts turning to Jesus. He knew the emotions of which the Psalmists sing. Psalm 34 is no exception.
Too often I lose perspective. I don’t acknowledge the presence and activity of God in my life. During his earthly life, Jesus never did this. He trusted in the plans and purposes of the Father and praise for him was always on his lips.
Yet Jesus also knows what it is to cry out to God in agony and distress. The only truly righteous man who’s ever lived knows what it is to suffer injustice. Matthew’s Gospel records that from the cross, “Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)” (Matthew 27:46). This time, God doesn’t answer. In that moment, he denied the Son justice, so he could save you and me. But ultimately, there will be a reckoning.
Every cry for deliverance is heard and will ultimately be answered. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are brought into a right relationship with God and adopted into his family. Our Father will always hear and answer his children who are being oppressed by the wicked forces in our world. Let no one misunderstand, he is on their side. Evil doesn’t get to win, because Christ is already victorious.
Yet, as we wait for ultimate justice, we don’t sit idle. We do what Psalm 34 instructs and we turn from evil and do good, we seek peace and pursue it (verse 14). We do what is right in our own lives and pursue shalom for those around us. Those of us who are privileged to live in a democracy can affect change with our voices and with our votes. And if we’re called to risk something by calling out injustice and working for good, then we must do it. If we are called to give up something for those in need, then let’s answer that call. After all, Jesus gave everything for us.
Respond
Before the Lord, examine your own heart. How does Psalm 34 speak to you?