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Presented, June 17, 2007 pm

Taste and See that the Lord Is Good

PSALM 34

                Tonight we continue our study of the psalms.  Tonight another psalm of David. 

This psalm is the second acrostic psalm of the Hebrew alphabet with each verse, while being read in Hebrew, beginning with a different letter in alphabetical order (with one exception).

The superscription relates this psalm to an event in the early life of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away.  The actual account is found in 1 Samuel 21 where David is fleeing from Saul.  First he goes to Nob, where Ahimelech the priest gives him and his men showbread (1-9) though David is not truthful with the priest.  Then he flees to Gath, where Achish is King (Gath was a city of the Philistines) – 1 Sam. 21:10-15.  [NOTE: The name Abimelech is first mentioned in Genesis 20 where Abraham flees to Gerar because of famine in the land. It is here where Abraham has Sarah say she is his sister and deceives Abimelech resulting in a curse.  Later, another Abimelech is deceived by his son Isaac.  Putting these together with our text, it seems that Abimelech is a title for some royalty in Philistia.]   In 1 Samuel 21, while David is in Gath, the king is warned about David’s greatness in Israel.  So David pretends to be insane and is thus cast out of Achish’s house.   It is interesting how this Psalm makes no mention of this event, but simply acknowledges the greatness of God to deliver His people.

This psalm can be divided into two parts.  Vs. 1-10 are David’s praise to God and vs. 11-22 are admonitions to the righteous.  Tonight we notice some lessons from this psalm.

I.                     David’s Praise

a.        David’s will bless the Lord at all times (not just when it is convenient) and continually (1-2)

                                                   i.      The term “bless the Lord” means that David will acknowledge and praise Jehovah God.  This is characteristic of David throughout the psalms; cf. Psalm 33:1, Psalm 9:1 where David says He will praise Him with his whole heart, etc.  

                                                  ii.      It is something David intends to do “at all times.”  It is interesting to note the event that this psalm is based upon was not one of David’s best days – he has lied to Ahimelech the priest and then fakes madness.  Does this sound like complete trust in the Lord?
Nevertheless, even in his times of personal failure he can see the greatness of God.  NOTE: This is not implying that occasional sin is acceptable.  When Paul said, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) there were no qualifiers. 
LESSON: Let us acknowledge God at all times.  1 Thess. 5:18 says that in everything we are to give thanks.   Phil 4:4 says to rejoice in the Lord always. 
Consider this not just when things are good, but even in those bad times and evil days (many of which we bring on ourselves).   While in this I am in NO WAY saying it is acceptable to rebel or sin EVER, we must never reach the point where we quit thinking about God and realizing His presence.  When the conscience is seared – we are done!!

                                                iii.      Also, David does not keep his praise to himself. 
Vs. 2 notes that his soul would make its boast in the Lord.  I find it interesting the word boast is used.  We often think of bragging as wrong – and when it is self-centered or inflated (some flattery) it is.  But how often do we really brag about how wonderful God is?  2 Corinthians 10:17 says, “But, ‘let him who glories, let him glory in the Lord’” (Taken from Jer. 9:24).  Also Galatians 6:14 speaks of boasting in the cross of Christ.
Such boasting is a comfort to the humble.   That is, it gives them hope.
BTW, what are you REALLY proud of?

b.       Oh, magnify the Lord with me (3) – a true leader wants to share his blessings with others.  He wants others to do what he is doing right.   He leads by example.  He calls for equality in them.

c.        He again acknowledges God’s deliverance (4 - 7).  Deliverance is another recurring theme in the psalms of David.  Over and over we have noticed how God delivers those who belong to Him (See previous psalms, e.g. Psa. 3:3-6, 18:17, etc.). David always gives glory to God in his life.
Hebrews 13:5 sums it up saying that He will never leave us or forsake us. 

d.       Taste and see that the Lord is good (8)
David invites others to experience what he has experienced with God.  With confidence he KNOWS what God is like.  He can tell you all day long (and he does) but until you actually experience it for yourself you do not fully appreciate it.  
For example: What does honey taste like?  You can describe it, but until someone actually tastes the honey for themselves they will not fully know.
Our challenge is to make Christianity so pleasant that others will WANT TO experience it for themselves, cf. Matthew 5:16.

e.        Vs. 9-10 - Saints are called upon to fear the Lord and seek Him.  As I consider these verses I see HOW one can taste the Lord for Himself.
First, he must FEAR God – Eccl. 12:13 – the whole duty of man.  1 Peter 2:17 tells us to fear Him.
Second, we must SEEK Him – Matthew 6:33.  Of course, when you find Him you have to react.
Those who seek Him will lack no good thing – I think of Romans 2:7 which speaks of those who seek, “glory, honor and immortality.”

II.                   A call to the righteous

a.        11- 14 - David desires to teach others the fear of the Lord.

                                 i.            He wants to lead them to the feast so that they can taste of it themselves.  Many passages reference food in our spirituality – Matt. 5:6 – hungering and thirsting after righteousness; John 6:35 - He is the bread of life, Psalm 19:10 where “the Law of the Lord” is described as being, “sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb.”  Etc.

                                ii.            David wants to teach them to fear the Lord and have long life and see good.  All the rewards of following after Him. How?  Described here:
Keep your tongue from evil – watch what you say.  James 3 relates how dangerous the tongue can be.
Don’t speak deceit – honesty and integrity is a must.
Depart from evil – RUN from it! Cf. 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 10:14.
Do good – 3 John 11 tells us to imitate what is good.   Hebrews 13:16 – do good and share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased
Seek peace and pursue it – Romans 14:19, Matthew 5:9 – blessed are the peacemakers.

b.       15-16 - God watches out for the righteous and is against the evil

                                 i.            1 Peter 3:10-12 quotes this text (12-16)

                                ii.            Rest assured that we want God to be on our side.  Note 1 John 3:22 which notes that we receive what we ask for because we keep His commandments.

                              iii.            For those who refuse to follow after Him.  See Romans 2:8-9.

c.        17-18 – Whom the Lord hears – they are righteous and humble

                                 i.            One of the blessings of obey God is that He hears our cries and prayers – 1 John 5:14

                                ii.            But He expects humility – Matthew 5:3 – blessed are the poor in Spirit.
James 4:10 says that if we humble ourselves in His sight, He will lift us up.

d.       19-20 – The Lord delivers the righteous from afflictions.

                                 i.            In vs. 19 David notes that there are many different things we might face, but God can deliver us from ALL of them.  Paul realized this while alone and cold in prison.  2 Tim. 3:11, 2 Cor. 1:9-10.

                                ii.            Also worthy of note is that vs. 20 is quoted in John 19:36 concerning Christ on the cross.  NOTE: Jesus’ bones were not broken because the Passover Lamb was not to have its bones broken – Exodus 12:46, cf. 1 Cor. 5:7 – He is our Passover lamb.  This psalm describes how God protected Him.

e.        21- Evil will slay the wicked, and retribution awaits those who are against the righteous
2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 speaks of what awaits the wicked.
Furthermore, their ways often lead to destruction, even in this life.

f.         22- He redeems His servants, ALL of them.
David concludes as he usually does with a statement of total faith.  No matter what wicked men do to us in this life, God is in control.  John 10:28-29 – none can snatch us from Him.
Romans 8:31 says that if God is for us, who can be against us?  Also vs. 37-39 which state that nothing can separate us.

Thus we see another psalm of David that demonstrates his faith in God.  It is a faith that he cannot keep to himself and causes him to glorify God with his all.  What about us?  Are we living our lives in such a way that God is first?