Psalm 34
By Bro David Petersen
The Book of Psalms
Introduction |
Psalm 1 |
Psalm 9 |
Psalm 23 |
Psalm 30 |
Psalm 33 |
Psalm 34 |
Psalm 46 |
Psalm 96 |
Psalm 103 |
Psalm 119
We need to bless the Lord when things are going well and when they are not going so well. When things go wrong, we don't blame God, we bless him.
Notice that the praise is "in my mouth". Praise should show up on our breath like Certs or Icebreakers. It's sweet and refreshing. Jesus said "of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45.
Praise is the breathalizer test of where our hearts are with God. Praise is a great witnessing tool. You can use it at work and no one needs to be offended.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
Boast In The Lord
1 Cor 1:30-31
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
- We can’t boast in the Law because by breaking the law, we dishonor God.
- We can’t boast in our flesh, for all flesh is like grass and all its glory is like the flower of grass: the grass withers and the flower falls off. Our lives are like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
- We can’t boast in our works because salvation is by grace through faith. It is the gift of God, not as a result of works.
- But I can boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
- We can boast in our weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in us.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
No Lone Ranger Christians
The Christian life was designed to be lived in a community setting. It is a group experience, not just an individual personal experience. It is often hard to get Americans to understand this because we tend to think of everything in life as an individual personal experience. In the American mind-set, whether to become a church member or not is not a personal decision left up to individual Christians.
On the other hand, in the New Testament it was a given that when someone was saved, they were then baptized and joined the local assembly. On the day of Pentecost Peter preached a sermon to a large crowd; and in Acts 2:41 it says “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
You cannot say, “Because I am saved, I am automatically in the body of Christ”. There is no universal invisible church. It’s called the ‘body of Christ’ because the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Eph 4:16). If you are not “joined” together with the body, then you cannot get what every joint supplies.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not 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 encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
You Will Have Trouble
The Lord didn't provide an opt out checkbox on the homepage of the Christian life. You don't send the Lord an email with the word "unsubcribe" in the subject if you no longer wish to continue receiving this trouble.
On the contrary, the Lord promised that his disciples will have trouble in this world: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33.
In order to really identify with these verses, you need to have had a problem that's bigger than you are. You need a problem that is so far outside the reach of human solutions that you know you can't solve it and that only God can. That's what will drive you to seek the Lord.
2 Cor 1:2-6
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
Those Who Look To Him Are Radiant
The word "lightened" in verse 5 means radiant which comes from the Hebrew word 'nahar':
1) to shine, to beam, to light, to burn; (Qal) to beam, to be radiant
2) to flow, to stream; (Qal) to flow, to stream
Dan 12:3
3 And they that be wise <have insight> shall shine as the brightness of the firmament <heavens>; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." " But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Cor 4:6-7.
Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer were American Christian aid workers who were arrested by the Taliban just before 9/11 for spreading the gospel. A non-Christian radio talk show host, Michael Savage described them as "radiant" on his show.
Not Ashamed
Those who radiate with the glow of Christ will not be ashamed. They will not blush or be disappointed, embarrassed or humilitated.
As the apostle Paul said:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16.
"What are we sneaking around for? Who are we trying to please? Shruggin off sin. Apologizing like were spreading some kind of disease." I'M NOT ASHAMED by the Newsboys.
Matt 13:43
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
The Meaning of Blessedness
Do not confuse blessedness with happiness. Blessedness is much more profound and broader in scope than happiness. Blessedness is deeper and wider. Blessedness is better than happiness.
The Bible actually speaks relatively little of happiness. For example the word "happy" appears 15 times in the New American Standard Bible which is one of the more literal translations of the Bible. However the term "blessed" appears 309 times. In every one of the 15 instances of the word happy, the happiness either comes as a result of something that God did for someone or as a result of obeying the Lord. In 3 of the cases the word really refers to enjoyment, being pleased or laughter. In only 1 of the 15 instances does the word appear in the New Testament (Rom 14:22) and in that case the word really means "blessed" when Paul says Rom 14:22-23
"Happy is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves."
There are five Hebrew and two Greek words translated happy in the scriptures. One Hebrew word means "to be at rest, safe" (see Matt. 11: 28-30). Some scholars suggest it would be better if many of these words were primarily translated "blessed" instead of "happy." A comparison of John 13:17 in the King James and American Standard renditions illustrates my point. The King James has the following: "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." The American Standard renders the Greek word here, "makarior" thus, "If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them." (It is interesting that the King James did however translate makarior "blessed" in the beatitudes of Jesus, (Matt. 5:3-7).
Happiness Dependent On Circumstances
In the world's view happiness is dependent upon our circumstances. Things need to go well for lost people to be happy. Definition of happiness, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
- Favored by luck or fortune : FORTUNATE
2 : notably fitting, effective, or well adapted : FELICITOUS <a happy choice>
3 a : enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment : JOYOUS b : expressing or suggestive of happiness : PLEASANT c : GLAD, PLEASED
But in contrast blessedness is not dependent on our shifting circumstances. Instead it is based on our relationship with God. And our relationship with God is steady, not shifting because it is based on his promises, not circumstances. Blessedness is not dependent upon circumstances going well like worldly happiness is. According to the Bible, we can be blessed while being corrected by God, suffering for the sake of righteousness, and being reproached for the name of Christ (Job 5: 17; I Pet. 3: 14; 4: 14).
Blessedness In The Bible
God's blessing or favor is made effective by his attributes. Because God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, he is able to back up his blessings. He uses his power to bestow his favor upon the one whom he blesses. God's blessing on people goes beyond mere happiness to include the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22-23. This blessedness often manifests itself in the form of Christian joy. Christian joy looks beyond the present to our future salvation (Rom 5:2; 8:18; 1 Peter 1:4,6) and to our sovereign God, who works out all things for our ultimate good, which is Christlikeness (Rom 8:28-30). This kind of joy is distinct from mere happiness or the type of giddiness that the world recgonizes as joy. It is characterized by an abiding, calm delight. Joy like this is possible, even in the midst of sorrow (1 Cor 12:26; 2 Cor 6:10; 7:4). Jesus taught nothing about happiness but he taught a lot about blessedness.
Matt 5:1-5
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
The goal here is not to provide an exposition of the beatitudes of Matthew chapter 5, but rather to show that Jesus emphasized blessedness, not happiness. By the way if your Bible uses the word "happy" in Matthew chapter 5 verses 3-11, then throw that Bible away and get yourself a different translation that uses the word "blessed". As we have shown blessedness is vastly different from and superior to happiness.The world offers you the illusion of happiness, but God offers you true blessedness.
9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
They Shall Not Want
Those who seek the Lord will find that living water that they may not thirst nor come hither to draw. They shall have a well of water springing up into everlasting life.Young lions are usually very good at feeding themselves. But even their strength can fail them if there is no game to catch.“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Not A Bone Of Him Shall Be Broken
John 19:31-37
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
In his gospel, the apostle John was either referring to Psalm 34:20 or to Exodus 12:43-46.
In Exodus chapter 12, verses 43-46, the Lord is instituting the ordinance of the Passover.
Ex 12:43-4643
And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
The Book of Psalms
Introduction |
Psalm 1 |
Psalm 9 |
Psalm 23 |
Psalm 30 |
Psalm 33 |
Psalm 34 |
Psalm 46 |
Psalm 96 |
Psalm 103 |
Psalm 119