This page will always be as the title suggests.  This section will be where I will publish thoughts and testimony, to share from the Bible and encourage.

So, for this month, I have gone back to a series I started, 'Pondering on the Psalms'. 

I have skipped forward to yet another Psalm of David, which I feel holds much encouragement to us.

 

It is Psalm 34 - 'The Lord delivers the Righteous' or 'Praise from the Cave'

At this time David had tried to seek refuge in the city of Gath.  He found no refuge there and narrowly escaped from Abimelech, who drove him away when he feigned madness.  ( ! Sam 21 v 10 - 22 v1).  Abimelech was a title given to rulers among the Philistines - the actual ruler here was Achish.  David escaped to the cave at Adullam.  They were many other desperate men there to gathered in the cave.

When I think of a cave I think of somewhere dark, dingy and damp.  Not a very comfortable or pleasant place to reside.

So, at this point David:-

• is still a fugitive from Saul who is trying to take his life.
• trying to seek revenge in Gath, he had to pretend to be mad to escape.
• he is now hiding in a cave.

Against all that, this Psalm begins, 'I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips'.  That's a powerful declaration, decision to make in the light of David's predicament.  Can I be like that?

Bless and praise the Lord at all times:-

Whatever the situation?

Even if everything is going wrong?

Even if God seems far away?

That last one is hard!  David expressed many times how God appeared to be far away and not listening.  Yet, he also expressed his trust in God.  At times, God can seem or feel far away, but that is the feeling, it is not the reality.  It is not about ignoring what may be going on.  It is not pretending all is fine.  What it is, as we see with David, is who we turn to, who we focus on and where we look for help.

'I sought the Lord and He answered me'.  A common statement in the Psalms, that he sought God and God answered.  Jeremiah 29 v 12-13 tells us that when we call and pray to Him, He will answer and also when we seek Him with all our heart, I WILL be found by you.  

There is a great phrase in v5, 'radiant with joy', referring to those who look to Him - the Lord.  The idea is of drawing radiance from God's own glory.  Paul explains it in 2 Cor 3 v 18.  This radiance is evidence they/we have looked to God.  Radiant with joy.  Looking to God brings us a hope and a confidence and that can reflect in our countenance because we don't need to be weighed down and downcast.

'Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him'.  This is a particularly low point for David.  Still being hunted by Saul.  Sought refuge but had to pretend to be mad to escape and now hiding in a cave.  Yet, David trusted and believed God had an angelic camp around him.  So, yes, he was hiding in a cave, but David declared he was hiding in God.  At our lowest most difficult points, we can trust in God's protection.  Between a rock and a hard place where there seems no good option for our situation there is that place of trust to be found like David.  David's protection was real and yet it was invisible.

Ps 34 v 7 gives support to the thought of a guardian angel for everyone or perhaps at least for believers.  This verse does not prove it, but is consistent with the idea.  'Guardian Angel' - A guardian angel is a type of angel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group or nation.  Maybe the consideration of these invisible guardians, who are also spectators of our actions, restrain us form evil and incite us to good?

'Taste and see that the Lord is good'

Experience if for yourself.  Nothing like learning something about God yourself.  You can hear other people saying He is faithful or He provides - but it is so much more real when you experience this yourself.  Of course when we first accept Christ, we need to hear others but the longer we walk in Christ, we learn it for ourselves.  No one can dispute what we know and have experienced.

v 15 - talks about the attentive eyes and ears  of the Lord towards the righteous.  An interesting thought, because God sees everyone but He will hear the righteous.  The Lord will act for those who follow Him.  The Lord is set against those who do evil.

The reminders are constantly there throughout the Psalms between the contrast of following God and choosing not to.

This Psalm closed with the thought, 'The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished'  Our life  is redeemed through accepting Christ and what He did on the Cross.  We can expect correction and discipline, but not punishment.

 

 

 

 

Endnotes:

Holman Bibles - CSB Bible

Enduring Word Commentary