Friends, it would be good to read 1 Samuel 21 to understand that Psalm 34 was written on the heels of what took place there. When David penned Psalm 34 (after acting strangely in 1 Samuel 21) he had a heart’s response of praise and wise insight of how great God is.
Let’s meditate on the first 5 verses of Psalm 34.
No matter where you’ve been, where you are, or where you’re going in this life, on your lips there always should be words of praise if you know God as Lord. Even in difficulty, the heart turned toward God and His greatness will make praise come forth like uncontainable water overflowing from reservoirs onto dry ground (for the sake of others who need to hear it, as well as you.)
Even if sadness sweeps in when there’s a loss of a loved one or you have to endure an excruciatingly painful experience, the Presence of God and His sustaining power are with you if you are saved. You can say and live these words:
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
Psalm 34:1
Because of the miraculous things God has done by sending His Son to be my Savior and because He has cleansed me from my sins through the sacrifice of His blood, I believe verse 2, knowing that ALL boasting is credited to Him alone:
My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
verse 2
Oh, that others come to rest and rejoice in all God has to offer them and that they too will rejoice in the hope He gives! And, as one chorus, let us lift our lives and words up to exalt Him!
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.
verse 3
The Lord has sought me, and in my recognition of great need for Him, I turned and He was there. I was drawn to Him and my faith in Him was real. The stronghold of fear that abounds in this world became conquerable through the power of the Holy Spirit! Faith increased, and fear decreased – all because of the Lord, my God!
I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
verse 4
He is with us in the times where fear could overtake us.
Verse 5 makes me quickly think of Stephen in the Book of Acts:
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
verse 5
Stephen boldly delivered a long sermon to the Sanhedrin and, at the end, he is martyred.
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God…While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then, he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:55; 59-60
Children of God, like Stephen—with the help of the Holy Spirit—let our faces be covered with His love as we see others…no matter if they are cold, non-responsive, hateful, or, even holding stones!
* * * * *
Dear Lord, let the love we have in our hearts for You spill forth as words of praise on our lips and as joy and peace in our lives and on our faces. In Jesus’ name, amen.
