Psalm 34 is another wisdom psalm. If we heed the instruction, we will find prosperity in the Lord.
The writer calls the hearers to join him in glorifying the Lord, in extolling his name, and praising him. The reason for the psalmist's joy is simple: he sought the Lord, and the Lord answered him! He was delivered from his fears and saved from his troubles. (1-7)
On the basis of his experience of deliverance, he is able to call others to follow him in growing in relationship with God. His instruction is the voice that hearers must listen to, but his teaching is authentic and emerges out of the fear of the Lord. The path is simple: If you love life and desire to see many good days, love God and love others. (8-14)
We want to see many good days. We want to be able to claim, honestly, that we love life. But for many of us, we struggle with this. We have anxiety in our lives, fears, things that slow us down and distract our focus away from God. How do we maintain our love for God and our love for others with these other things pulling at us?
The psalmist has already provided the answer! Let us seek the Lord! It is the Lord, and only the Lord, who is able to--and will--deliver us from our fears and save us from our troubles (4, 6). And when we are freed from these things, we are left open to love.
Seek the Lord in the morning. Seek him throughout the day. Seek him before you go to bed at night. Pray simple prayers that keep you connected to him. Meditate on a key verse from the Bible. Keep him in your mind before you.
What troubles and fears do you need to be set free from? How will you begin to seek the Lord on a regular basis?
The writer calls the hearers to join him in glorifying the Lord, in extolling his name, and praising him. The reason for the psalmist's joy is simple: he sought the Lord, and the Lord answered him! He was delivered from his fears and saved from his troubles. (1-7)
On the basis of his experience of deliverance, he is able to call others to follow him in growing in relationship with God. His instruction is the voice that hearers must listen to, but his teaching is authentic and emerges out of the fear of the Lord. The path is simple: If you love life and desire to see many good days, love God and love others. (8-14)
We want to see many good days. We want to be able to claim, honestly, that we love life. But for many of us, we struggle with this. We have anxiety in our lives, fears, things that slow us down and distract our focus away from God. How do we maintain our love for God and our love for others with these other things pulling at us?
The psalmist has already provided the answer! Let us seek the Lord! It is the Lord, and only the Lord, who is able to--and will--deliver us from our fears and save us from our troubles (4, 6). And when we are freed from these things, we are left open to love.
Seek the Lord in the morning. Seek him throughout the day. Seek him before you go to bed at night. Pray simple prayers that keep you connected to him. Meditate on a key verse from the Bible. Keep him in your mind before you.
What troubles and fears do you need to be set free from? How will you begin to seek the Lord on a regular basis?
