Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 34

Like us, David’s life had many occasions in which God delivered him from the hands of the enemy. The greatest deliverance we know, is of course, our deliverance from sin resulting from Christ’s death on the cross. So, like David, we have many reasons to offer blessings and give praise, to our God.

Psalm 34:1-2

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

It is important to be in a church body to praise God together.

Psalm 34:3
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

The greatest attribute of a Christian, is humility, for this exemplifies Christ. The humble man, like David, seeks God in all situations.

Psalm 34:4-5
I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Humble yourself before God and He will answer.

Psalm 34:6
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

Humble yourself before God and He will protect you. Fear God, not man.

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Feed upon Christ and you shall be nourished. Trust in Him and you shall find safe refuge.

Psalm 34:8
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

David had some formidable enemies. As a boy, he had taken down the giant, Goliath. David knew bravery, yet David knew who to fear.

Psalm 34:9
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!

The secret of life is simple. Fear God and let Him be your provider.

Psalm 34:10
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

The best proof that we truly fear God, will be seen in our obedience.

Psalm 34:11-14
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.  What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The Christian has a safe refuge in Christ.

Psalm 34:15-18
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.  The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

The Bible does not promise an easy life for those who follow Jesus. But the man who trusts God in the storm, will pass through it safely. God is sovereign. He is still in control. Though it may look like evil is winning sometimes, it is not.

Psalm 34:19-21
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.  Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

And to the one who perseveres in faith will come eternal life.

Psalm 34:22
The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Bless, seek, fear, and trust God. Do these things and you will be saved for all of eternity.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 33

“Why am I here”, is a question man has pondered for all time. The answer is simple and is found in the scriptures.

Isaiah 43:7
Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."

We are here to bring glory to God. When we are called to salvation by God’s sovereign election, our first duty is to offer Him our worship and praise. Psalm 33 is a psalm about worship and a lesson on praise.

One of the ways to worship is through song. David explains how that should look.

Psalm 33:1-3
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.  Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.  Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

We are to sing our praises and sing our thanksgiving out, using musical instruments. And this should be done with joy. This should be done with skill.

David explains why we should do this.

Psalm 33:4-9
For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.  He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.  By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

God accomplishes His work by the mighty power of His Word. He speaks things into existence. This is the power of His Word.

He is sovereign over all things. Even the nations are controlled by Him. This is more reason to worship Him. This is why we need to stop complaining about our government and spend more time praying for the ones leading our nations.

Psalm 33:10-12
The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

God is not sleeping. Things might look out of control and the world might appear to be running amok. It is not. God is fully aware. He is sovereign.

Psalm 33:13-15
The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men;  From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth,  He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

We think that power and control come from human strength. As a nation, we want more and bigger weapons. As a people, we buy more guns and more bullets, thinking in this we are safe. Not so. Put your faith in God. Let Him be your protection.

Psalm 33:16-17
The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength.  A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

Seek first the kingdom, Jesus told us. Then all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

Psalm 33:18-21
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,  To deliver their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.

Do as David, call out to God in prayer. Wait on Him.

Psalm 33:22
Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.

Where is your hope today? Place it in our mighty and sovereign God. Then turn your worries and your anxieties into praise and worship.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 32

Psalm 32 is called a “Maskil of David.” A Maskil is something that gives instruction, teaches something. One might say that the entire Bible is a Maskil, for in it is the secret of how to live as a child of God. The topic of instruction in this psalm is sin. What can we learn from David in this psalm?

Psalm 32:1-2

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

First of we see that the one who is blessed in this life, is the one who has found forgiveness for his sins. Christians and non-Christians alike, need to recognize the truth of their own sinfulness. And then to recognize that God can and does bring discipline into our lives to grow us in Christ.

Psalm 32:3-4
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Preachers have stopped preaching this truth in fear of offending people. I believe their hearts are leading them to think that if they offend people then they won’t respond to the preaching of the Gospel. But the Bible does not teach that. It teaches the opposite. We have far too many “saved” people who have no idea what they are saved from.

David suffered because of his own sin by thinking he could cover it up. But even his physical body was worn down until he finally came clean in confession.

Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Not only do we see in this psalm the relief of confession and forgiveness, we also see that being in Christ brings even more.

Psalm 32:7
You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

Jesus becomes our hiding place from our enemies. He delivers us from our sins.

Psalm 32:8-9
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Through His Holy Spirit, God teaches us and counsels us. We no longer need the psychology of man; the Holy Spirit becomes our counselor.

David reminds us that we need to seek Jesus now. There will come a day when it is too late.

Psalm 32:6
Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

The final lesson of this psalm is simple. Trusting in Christ brings joy.

Psalm 32:10-11
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to examine all your ways. He will lead you away from all sin. He will not only impute the righteousness of Christ upon you, which seals your place in eternity, He will also guide you into true holiness as you walk this earth.