Bible Study (4) - Worshipping GOD (4) - Psalm 34 - May 5, 2024

 

Bible Study (4) – Worshipping GOD (4) – Psalm 34:1-3, 8-10, 15-18 – May 5, 2024

Our focus scripture is Psalm 34:1-3,8-10, 15-18.

WHEN WE WORSHIP GOD TOGETHER, WE EXPERIENCE JOY IN HIS PRESENCE.

How is that possible? JESUS stated in Matthew 18:20: ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

David wrote Psalm 34, and he experienced the joy and unity among fellow worshippers when they came together to sing the praises of GOD. It is much like the embers or coals of a nice fire. Together they produce nice warming heat but separated the embers begin to lose heat and are not as effective.

Proverbs 19:21: 21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

As you may recall, before JESUS ascended into Heaven after HIS passion, JESUS stated in Luke 24: ⁴⁴ He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me (JESUS) in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

JESUS told us that “everything written about HIM in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Since the Passion of JESUS, all who have placed their faith in JESUS, have the Holy Spirit indwelling them to teach them and reveal truth to them from GOD and the scripture.

Let’s read Psalm 34:1-7:

The Lord Delivers the Righteous

Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him out, he departed. David was fleeing from King Saul and went to Abimelech for refuge but while there he became concerned for his safety and pretended to be insane. David was able to leave Abimelech without incident. GOD does provide creative ways for us to escape from bad situations. The key is, once a person asks GOD for a way out of a dire situation and he/she sees the escape path, he/she must take the path to escape. Once you see it take it.

As we read Psalm 34, notice the attitude of David. David has great confidence in GOD. How did David get such confidence? Do you think it was while tending sheep? He had to take matters into his own hands and kill the enemy of his sheep (bears, lions, thieves, etc.) At first David may have been apprehensive. Is this when David saw the hand of GOD protecting him? I think so as we consider the words David wrote in this Psalm.                                                                                                                                               

¹ I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will boast in the Lord;
the humble will hear and be glad.
³ Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me;
let us exalt his name together.

How we approach GOD is vital. David approached GOD with adoration, respect, trust, and praise. He was confident in his relationship with GOD. David reached out to others to join him in the praise and adoration of the ONE TRUE GOD, YAWEH, I AM.

We know that David was a man after GOD’S own heart, yet David committed grievous sins. WHAT DOES THAT TELL US? ALL OF US ARE TARGETS OF Satan. We, who have been Born-Again Spiritually, must keep in our minds, as recorded in 1 John4:4: ⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one (JESUS) who is in you is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world.

JESUS dwells within all Spirit-born people through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

As a Christian, when things go wrong, don’t fuss, and lose your temper. Pause and rebuke Satan out loud in the name of JESUS and then focus on what you are doing. Satan and his demons want to pester you and me but remember, “Greater is JESUS WHO is in you than Satan, who is in the world.”

Let’s read on and consider the attitude of the writer of this Psalm toward GOD.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and rescued me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are^[a] radiant with joy;
their faces will never be ashamed.
⁶ This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him from all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and rescues them.

When we, who seek to be in right relationship with GOD, TRUST HIM AND OBEDIENTLY FOLLOW HIM. Once a person learns to trust GOD, it opens the door to serving GOD through faith in JESUS.

Faith and trust grow as we serve our LORD JESUS. The same was true of David, the more he served GOD, the deeper his love for GOD grew and became real.

^{Let’s read Psalm 34:8-10:}

⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good.
How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!

How does a person taste and see? GOD and JESUS have to be internalized and become real for us to trust and obey through being obedient to the call of the Holy Spirit.

⁹ You who are his holy ones, fear (show reverence and respect to) the Lord,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
¹⁰ Young lions^[b] lack food and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord
will not lack any good thing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

GOD can be trusted to provide for our needs!

¹¹ Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² Who is someone who desires life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.
¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do what is good;
seek peace and pursue it.

You and I choose every day what thoughts we allow into our minds. We make a choice to allow them into our minds or kick them out as we claim faith in JESUS and HIS shed blood.

We must keep in mind that the Holy Spirit had not been sent to indwell earthly bodies when David wrote this Psalm, but GOD revealed Himself to those who sought to be in right relationship with HIM.

Since the passion of CHRIST and Pentecost the Holy Spirit indwells every Spirit-born person and is his/her guarantee of eternal life.

Let’s read Psalm 34:15-18:

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry for help.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is set
against those who do what is evil,
to remove^[c] all memory of them from the earth.
¹⁷ The righteous^[d] cry out, and the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he saves those crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ One who is righteous has many adversities,
but the Lord rescues him from them all.
²⁰ He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
²¹ Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
²² The Lord redeems the life of his servants,
and all who take refuge in him will not be punished.

Verse 19 is prophesy regarding JESUS when HE was crucified and a foreshadow of GOD’S grace. GOD has the back of all who place their faith in JESUS. A person’s faith in JESUS, as the true one and only Son of GOD, HIS physical sinless life upon earth, physical death to pay in full for all sin by the shedding of HIS blood and the physical resurrection of JESUS by GOD is the foundation upon which all Spirit-born people build upon, through faith in JESUS.

Do you recall the teaching of JESUS when Nicodemus came to JESUS at night as recorded in John 3:1-8: There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water (physically) and the Spirit, he/she cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. ⁸ The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Spiritual birth is a miracle. The Spirit of GOD (Divine Sperm) unites with a person’s human spirit (Egg). Spiritual conception takes place quicker than the twinkling of the eye. The Holy Spirit is that person’s guarantee he/she has been Spiritually born into GOD’S eternal Family and his/her guarantee of eternal life.

If you have not experienced this miracle, do you want to? Then ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart. When you do, remember you are a Spiritual Newborn, and you need to feed or be fed Spiritual nutritious food, study GOD’S Word (The Bible) and exercise by putting into action what you are learning.

Pray and ask GOD to lead you to a Bible teaching, believing and application of the Gift(s) GOD gave to you the moment you asked JESUS into your heart. Spiritual Gifts have to be opened and applied as led by the Holy Spirit.

Keep in your mind that you are on a journey and getting to know JESUS in a wonderful, powerful way. Talk to GOD as often as you need to and be honest with HIM. Prayer is talking to GOD and prayer is the key to walking with JESUS as The Holy Spirit leads you. Blessings!!!