Psalm 34
Sunday, 23 July 2023
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” -Psalm 34:18
Psalm 34 expresses the Psalmist’s great confidence in God even at a time of great challenge. It is a fact that the majority of people living in this world find life difficult and people respond to their difficulties in different ways. Some go for the world’s solutions, some just surrender to the problems without fighting or completing the fight, but for those who have the grace of the Lord this becomes a chance to encounter the true God. Because God formed everyone and He knows all of us by our name (Isaiah 43:1), God loves us with an everlasting love. Search for Him when God is near –in the brokenness in life. God will never despise those who are of broken or contrite in heart (V.18). He will show us the right way of life, meaning of life and how to overcome the situations in Him.
As we know Psalmist David had the strong faith in God and this psalm exhorts us that if one is ready to look to the Lord in his time of trouble he will not be ashamed. (V. 5)
If we take time to meditate this Psalm, it helps us in understanding how to respond to God in our times of trouble for deliverance and more importantly for the life to come (eternal life).
· David Sought and found the Lord - “Those who seek the Lord, lack no good thing” (V.10).
· David Believed that God hears our prayer- “This poor man cried and Lord heard him”(V.6)
· Praised and worshipped God - “I will praise the LORD at all times”(V.1)
· Exalted God - “Let’s exalt His name together ”(V.3)
· Glorified God - “Those who look to him are radiant ”(V.5)
· God delivered David - “The LORD delivered me from all my fears” (V.4)
· God saved him - “The LORD saves those who are crushed in spirit ”(V.18)
· God comforted him - “Taste and see that the Lord is good ” (V.8)
· God redeemed him - “The LORD redeems the soul of His servants”(V.22)
All the above can be condensed into the New Testament verse “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
The God who delivered David is able to deliver anybody from any kind of difficulties, no matter how hard it may seem for us. We only need to believe in this Most Gracious God. Moreover, our God is able to deliver us from the hold of sin and thereby the fear of death which to many is an unanswered dilemma. To make it possible God sent His own Son Jesus Christ, who came to the earth as a human and lived as one among us and at the appointed time He became a sacrifice on the cross for our forgiveness. There is no other way other than believing in Jesus Christ, for our salvation and eternal life which are available, “free of cost” to anyone who believes in Him as his Lord and Saviour.
For the ones who believe in Christ, their time of believing is the time of deliverance from all the dilemmas of life and thus “Today is the acceptable time of the Lord.” Let us proclaim this fact to the world so that the suffering among us will be blessed with the knowledge of eternal salvation and thereby enjoy deliverance from suffering. Our Lord of Peace will make it possible by granting us the “peace that surpasses every understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)
Promise from God: “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Listen: 'Jesus hope of the nations'