~ Lessons from Psalm 34 ~
God does not want His children living in fear. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3). However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him. We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”
This Week’s Passage ~ “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth [1]. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears [2]. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! [3] Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing [4].
“Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it [5].
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry [6]. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all [7]. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned” (Psalm 34:1-22).
Important Points ~ There are a number of important points in this short passage including, but not limited to:
[1] Knowing God is a continual thing. It is not an hour on Sunday in your local church.
[2] God hears the prayers of His children.
[3] True happiness and joy comes from a relationship with God.
[4] Those who trust the Lord will lack no good necessary thing.
[5] The person who fears God will have a different lifestyle.
[6] God hears and listens to the prayers of those who fear Him.
[7] Trusting God does not make life on earth any easier.
Fearing God Results in Salvation ~ “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16). This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will.
Fearing God Results in Fearlessness ~ “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). The answer is: only God. With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.
Fearing God Results in Witnessing ~ “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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