Psalm 34 - At all times

Psalm 34 - At all times

Read: Psalm 34 vs 1-22

Psalm 34 is one of 14 Psalms in the Bible with a title linked to specific events in the life of David. David wrote this Psalm when fleeing from Saul he had taken refuge in the Philistine city of Gath. Gath (Goliath’s home city) was a very hazardous place for David to be and he ended up pretending to be insane to safely escape from it (the story is told in 1 Samuel 21 vs 10-15.

Step back and think about where David is when he is writing this. In the Bible the life of faith is lived out in some extremely complicated, dangerous and ‘not what you would want’ situations. These are the places where God meets His people. These are the places where God even puts ‘praise’ (vs 1) on the lips of His people. David’s trust in the LORD is an ‘at all times’ trust (vs 1).

We often long to believe in a God whose guidance is straightforward and whose path for our lives is easy to follow, predictable and fenced in against all dangers. This is not the God who David knew, but what what David did know was that time and again God answered him (vs 4) and kept on saving him (vs 6). 

What do we hope for as we look forward from here as followers of Jesus? David’s testimony echoes words spoken by (an imprisoned) Apostle Paul in Philippians 4 vs 11-13:

‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

Whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.’

Like Paul after him, David longed to share what he had learned (vs 11), ‘the fear of the LORD’, good news atall times.

Prayer: Lord Jesus thank you that you are close to the brokenhearted. Bring strength to all today who are crushed in spirit. May we lack nothing as we place our trust in You.