Psalm 34

Go ahead and take your copy of God's Word and open up to Psalm 34.

Psalm chapter 34.

Psalms 34 · chapter mention

My daughter, we think, has been teething lately, and so you can imagine how my nights have been.

! So I had way more coffee than I should have, so if I start shaking uncontrollably, it's not the Spirit or, you know, anything like that.

It's just a lot of caffeine.

So, but yeah, we'll be looking at Psalm 34 this morning.

And, you know, I feel like since we're doing kind of random psalms this summer, every week started off with like an apologetic, like, why I picked this psalm.

I picked this one because it relates heavily to the Sermon on the Mount, so you know I was going to take that opportunity, because if you know me, I'll take any excuse to bring that up.

But then as I finished prep today, or yesterday, sorry, as I finished prep, I realized I never actually got to it.

I didn't have time, so I was really sad and disappointed.

So I say that on the front end to encourage you this week, if you have time, to read this side-by-side with the Beatitudes, Matthew 5, verses 3 through 12.

Matthew 5:3–12

And I trust that that will be a great benefit to you.

But our text today is Psalm 34.

This is a psalm that David wrote after his incident before Achish, the king of Gath.

And you'll notice our psalm says, in the superscript, it says,

After David changed before Abimelech.

Okay, but Abimelech is not a name.

It is a title.

His name was Achish.

And if you're familiar with this story, you'll recall from 1 Samuel, chapter 21, verses 10 through 15, that David was fleeing King Saul for his life.

1 Samuel 21:10–15

And in his evasion of Saul, he went into pagan territory, the homeland of Goliath, in fact, the giant that he had killed.

And he went to Gath.

And the residents of Gath recognized David and essentially said to themselves,

Isn't this that guy that killed a bunch of our buddies?

Isn't this why card night has been poorly attended?

It's a lot of empty chairs.

And David, recognizing that they were likely preparing to take vengeance to kill him,

he begins to act as though he were crazier, loonier, insane to save himself.

Right?

And he did this to the point of letting spit run down his beard,

which was a powerfully shameful image in the ancient world.

And so why did he do this?

Again, to preserve himself.

He was hoping that, oh, they'll see I'm crazy, take pity on me, and not even take the time to kill me,

because I'm just this crazy guy.

And so it was.

David was able to leave Gath with his life at the expense of great personal shame.

But Psalm 34 records his thoughts after this event.

Our psalm today is a reflection, then, of what was spurned in his mind by that event.

And it leads him to worship the Lord, to testify concerning the Lord,

and to instruct others for things pertaining to life and godliness.

So our outline is simple, just a three-step outline.

Number one, David's testimony.

Number two, David's teaching.

And number three, David's conclusion.

So number one, David's testimony, verses 1 through 10.

We'll begin reading in verse 1.

David writes,

So it's remarkable that David begins his psalm with praise.

So contextually, remember, he's on the run from Saul, who wants to kill him.

He narrowly escapes the Philistines by pretending to be crazy.

And they, too, wanted to kill him.

He's surrounded by his followers out in the wilderness,

nowhere to safely lay his head and nowhere to safely worship the Lord,

without the constant threat of death.

And yet, here he is, worshiping the Lord.

Verse 1,

I will bless the Lord at all times.

This praise is continually in his mouth.

And that should be convicting to us all.

I think of the times you've neglected Bible reading, neglected prayer, neglected fasting,

neglected singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs because of whatever,

behind on work, family obligations.

I'm tired.

I don't feel like it.

We've all used those excuses before.

And here is David, who probably had the best excuse, right?

Lord, sorry, a bunch of people are trying to kill me.

Don't have time to talk to you right now.

Yet, he is worshiping the Lord.

So this, for me, and I trust for all of us,

was warrant to stop pretending as though our lives are so busy,

as if our lives are so chaotic that we can't find time each day

to worship the Lord through the means he has intended.

And so I would encourage any of you who are limping spiritually right now

to go before the Lord in prayer,

to go before him and confess your sin

and make a game plan to return to the restful work of worshiping the Lord.

It is good for us to be humbly worshiping him

and boasting of him and him alone.

And in verse 3, don't miss the fact

that David is worshiping the Lord in community.

He's talking to somebody.

He's talking to his guys,

the guys with him out in the wilderness.

He says, magnify the Lord with me.

Let us exalt his name together.

So these men who chose God's chosen,

these men who have sided with David over Saul.

This is the faith community, right?

This is, dare I say, the church, right?

This is the faith community in the Old Testament gathered around David,

worshiping the Lord, being persecuted by the falsely religious Saul.

And David invites them all to worship the Lord,

and he's about to give testimony to God's goodness.

So I would extend the same invitation to us all this morning,

that as we read, as we meditate, as we think on God's word,

we would worship the Lord and reflect upon his goodness to David together,

recognizing that God's care for David and his band

is paradigmatic for how he cares for us today.

So looking at verse 4,

we'll see David's testimonial of God's salvation and deliverance begin.

He writes in verse 4,

So why does David praise God?

Because David has been delivered from all his fears.

I don't know what all of his fears were exactly,

but we can have a good idea, right?

I get a good sense that he's probably afraid of Saul.

He's probably afraid of Philistines.

Death is probably on his mind constantly.

He probably feared starving on the run, right?

You can read stories of him taking bread from the priests.

He left even without his weapons.

So I'd imagine he's pretty fearful of these things.

He's probably fearful of failure, right?

All these men who've chosen to side with him out in the wilderness,

their lives, their family lives, all at stake.

And the amount of pressure and the fear

that often accompanies such pressure for someone like David

is unimaginable.

Unimaginable.

David testifies that those who look to God

shall never be ashamed in verse 5.

And the language of this verse is reminiscence of Moses,

whose face changed in the presence of God in Exodus 34,

Exodus 34:29–35

verses 29 through 35.

If you recall, Moses came down from Mount Sinai,

and when he came down, his face was radiant,

and all of Israel was afraid of him

because of how radiant his face was.

It changed every time he met with God.

And likewise, we have the benefit of the New Testament,

which gives us a portrait of the greater Moses,

our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 17 records Jesus' transfiguration

before the disciples, the inner circle.

And Jesus' face shone, is the words.

His face shone like the sun,

and his clothes became white as light.

So Moses, his face was merely radiant,

a reflection.

It radiated the light of God.

But here, Jesus, the light just came out from him,

because he is God.

So that greater description of Christ,

clothes, in fact, lit up white.

And David's testimony in verse 5,

that all who look to God are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed,

is language used throughout the Bible

to describe those who draw near to God.

Language used to describe those who put their trust in God.

They are looking to him and him alone for deliverance,

and he will deliver.

They will not be ashamed.

And so David's confidence is so strong,

despite the circumstances.

He says repeatedly and emphatically

that God saves those who look to him,

the righteous, the humble,

the brokenhearted,

as we shall see.

And David's confidence is strong

because it is in the Lord and not himself.

Look at verse 6.

David says of himself,

This poor man cried,

and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

This poor man cried.

And again, the emphasis of it being

all of David's troubles that he is saved from.

God saves the whole man

from the whole of his issues.

So perhaps you came to church today

by dragging yourself,

right?

Finances have you weighed down,

you're anxious,

strife in your families,

consuming your thoughts and energy,

right?

You're bitter, angry, or frustrated

that you're incapable of reconciling

all the wrongs.

Perhaps a sense of loss,

whether it be someone you know,

a phase of life that you miss,

or a friend who has moved away,

your discontent.

Perhaps you don't even know why you are,

but you just know that you are

dragging day to day,

moment to moment.

And one way or another,

you've come to a place

where you just recognize

that you are powerless

to do anything meaningful.

You are incapable of effectively

seeing the change

you want to see in life.

In fact, you recognize that

even if you did have that power,

you don't even know

what's good for you,

so you wouldn't bring it about

because you don't know

what to bring about.

So even if you were this powerful,

you recognize that ultimately

you are weak, foolish, blind,

deaf, and dumb.

I can't do anything on my own.

I can't provide for myself.

I cannot save myself.

If you've come to that place,

that's the kind of state

David was in,

right?

That blessed, poor man.

David does not look to his kingship.

He does not look to his army.

He does not look to anything like that,

but to God.

And by grace,

the Lord heard his cries,

and he will hear ours too

if we'd only look to him,

right, to seek him

and to worship him

with fear and reverence,

like David.

And for those of us

who do fear the Lord,

who recognize that we're broken,

that we're poor,

that we deserve death

and condemnation

because of our sin.

There's good news

in verse 7.

The angel of the Lord

encamps around those

who fear him

and delivers them.

Again, David seems

to be picking up

on Moses

and his writings.

The Lord encamped

in the midst of Israel

when they traveled

in the wilderness.

The Levite priests

were tediously instructed

on how to march

with the Lord's tabernacle

at the center.

And the priests

would surround it

in the way they marched

and the way they camped

and the way they did everything.

Numbers 1,

chapter 1,

verse 53,

explains why.

Moses writes,

But the Levites

shall camp

around the tabernacle

of testimony

so that there may be

no wrath

on the congregation

of the people of Israel.

So Levites,

as priests,

provided a hedge

of protection,

so to speak,

from God's holiness

destroying the unholy people

whom he tabernacled with.

This was the means

by which God

was able to dwell

with Israel

by priests,

by sacrifice,

by bloodshed,

by a covering.

And the priests

functioned as that covering.

But notice Psalm 34,

7 doesn't say

the Levites

encamp around his people.

It says the angel

of the Lord

encamps

around his people.

David seems

to understand

that this angel

of the Lord figure

is one who will take

the role of priest.

This is one

who will be a barrier

between us

and the wrath of God

which we justly deserve.

And we know,

of course,

from the New Testament

that the angel

of the Lord

is Jesus Christ.

He provides

the perfect sacrifice

by offering himself

on the cross

to bear the wrath

of God

which we deserve.

He intercedes

before the Father

on our behalf.

Whoa.

And he takes

the role

not only of high priest

but the role

of sacrificial lamb.

Okay?

And only he is fit

for such a role.

Who better

to encamp

around the people

of God

to shield us

from the wrath

of God

than God

himself.

And we could show

that the angel

of the Lord

is Jesus

in a number

of ways

but spice it

to say

the angel

of the Lord

appears

throughout

the Old Testament.

One example

is when Abraham

is about

to sacrifice Isaac.

We know

from Genesis 22

11 through 18

it's the angel

of the Lord

who shows up

and says don't.

And then again

in Exodus 3 too

it's the angel

of the Lord

who speaks

to Moses

through the burning bush.

And very significantly

the gospel

of John

opens by explaining

how the word

became flesh

and Jesus

was the word.

John writes

in chapter 1

verse 14

and this is the translation

I like

he writes

and the word

became flesh

Jesus became flesh

and tabernacled

among us.

Now the Greek word

here is usually

translated as

dwelt

or

encamped.

However

John seems

intentionally

to be picking

this word

in a context

where he's

showing the deity

and humanity

of Christ.

All that to say

that

John seems

to have

the ideas

of tabernacle

of wilderness

wanderings

of God

among man

all these things

seem to be

streaming through

this one

word choice

tabernacled

this angel

of the Lord

who encamps

around those

who fear him

our Lord Jesus

who delivers us.

that's who

David is

talking about.

So what does

it mean

to fear

the Lord

then?

What does

it mean

to look

like one

who is

of that

community

who fears

the Lord

who will be

shielded

from the

wrath

to come?

Well we'll

come back

to that

in verse

11

as David

does

but looking

at verses

8-10

see how

David cannot

help but

burst into

praise again.

He says

in verse

8

O taste

and see

that the

Lord is

good.

Blessed

is the

man who

takes refuge

in him.

O fear

the Lord

you his

saints

for those

who fear

him

have no

lack.

The young

lions suffer

want and

hunger

but those

who seek

the Lord

lack

no

good

thing.

Now I

love

eating.

I love

good food.

And when I

picture an

ideal time

with family

or friends

or whoever

food is

a constant.

I picture

you know

ribs,

fries,

you name it,

watermelon,

all that

stuff.

And there's

just something

amazing about

tasting.

And there's

really no

substitute

for tasting.

I can't

really think

of anything

that is

like

tasting.

In fact,

one of the

times I

felt the

most subhuman

in my

life was

when I

had COVID

and lost

my taste.

It was

like,

oh man,

like there

goes half

my life.

It was

miserable.

And God

designed us

with taste buds

for a reason,

right?

To enjoy

his gifts

of food,

not in a

gluttonous

way,

but still

to enjoy

nonetheless,

right?

All the

variety,

all the

nuance that

you can get

just from

a piece

of steak

and how

salted it

is,

how grilled

it is,

or how

smoked it

is,

all the

things you

can do

to that

little guy

that just

invites it,

you know?

And then you

add in,

you know,

vegetables,

if they're

buttered and

cooked,

of course,

you know?

All these

kind of

things.

And so I

love David's

imagery here,

taste,

that the

Lord is

good,

right?

The nuance,

the flavor,

the experience

from bite to

bite,

from hotter

to colder,

I mean,

just all those

things.

How much

more so

with the

Lord?

How much

greater,

how much

more satisfying,

how much

more joyful

is it to

taste that

the Lord is

good in so

many ways,

in every

way?

And David

invites us to

see that he

is good,

too.

You know,

what is it

about a smile

from someone

that is so

comforting?

What is it

about seeing

someone look

at us with a

caring eye,

or loving

eye?

What is it

about seeing

great rocks

and trees

and mountains

and these

kinds of

things that

evokes awe,

beauty,

and goodness

in our

hearts and

minds?

Again,

whatever that

is,

imagine seeing

God in our

faces becoming

radiant because

of his

surpassing

goodness,

his surpassing

glory,

to imagine

that.

In a way,

David is

saying,

give God

the eye

test.

And with

great confidence,

he's saying,

if you look

to him,

if you give

him that

test,

if you try

him out

in this

way,

no doubt

you'll see

he is

good.

Not evil,

not a

disappointing

eye,

not an

unloving

father,

not a

distant

father,

not a

shady

character

whom we

don't know

what to

make of,

but we'll

see and

know the

Lord is

good.

And the

man who

takes refuge

in this

good Lord

is called

blessed.

So you

can see

the Sermon

on the

Mount,

right?

Oh,

man.

This is a

beatitude,

and they

are found

throughout

Scripture,

Old and

New Testament.

Essentially,

the idea

is that

someone is

considered

blessed

when the

sum of

their life

will equate

to flourishing,

to happiness,

fortunate,

or bliss.

This does

not mean

that a person

will not

experience

persecution

or trials,

but that

in the

grand

scheme

of

things,

in the

sum

total,

the

negatives

are

insignificant.

Why?

Because they

are only

used,

beatitudes

that is,

they are

only used

to describe

true

believers.

So in

the grand

scheme

of things,

even though

you might

be boiled

in a pot

in this

life for

Christ's

sake,

in the

grand

scheme

of things,

you are

blessed

because you

will reign

in

eternity

with God

by grace.

So anyone

in this

life can

see that

the Lord

is good,

but only

the one

who takes

refuge in

the Lord

will feast

and enjoy

him forever

and eternity.

Those of us

who have

recognized

that we

are poor

men like

David and

have sought

the Lord

alone for

this refuge,

this deliverance,

this salvation

with which he

speaks,

will not

be disappointed.

So what

are we

to do?

Well,

David says

in verses

9-10

that we

are to

fear the

Lord.

Why?

Because he

encamps

around those

who fear

him.

He saves

those

who fear

him.

And because

he is

good to

those

who fear

him,

they lack

no good

thing.

Others

will starve

and hunger

and thirst

and shall

not be

satisfied

like young

lions,

but we

who place

faith in

Christ

will not

be ashamed.

We will

be

delivered.

Now we

get asked

the question,

what does

it mean

to fear

the Lord?

We've

had David's

testimony

of God's

goodness

from verses

1-10

to which

he discussed

the fear

of the

Lord a

lot,

but what

actually

is it?

Well,

here David's

second invitation

verses 11-12

he says,

come,

oh children,

listen to

me.

I will

teach you

the fear

of the

Lord.

So

everything

we're

about

to read

will cover

this.

What

is the

fear

of the

Lord?

But he

goes on

in verse

12 to

spice it

up more.

He says,

what man

is there

who desires

life and

loves many

days that

he may

see good?

He's

asking,

who loves

life and

desires a

long,

full,

flourishing

time on

earth by

walking with

God,

by seeing

good?

God,

he may

have

to

love

him.

And I

just want

to pause

for a

moment and

reflect on

something here.

You know,

I cannot tell

you how often

I've expressed

something like,

I can't wait

till this is all

over.

Right?

Not in a

depressed sense,

not in a

suicidal sense,

but just simply

recognizing that

once this life

is over,

I'm not going

to miss it.

Right?

I'm going to be

in heaven,

I'm going to

enjoy God,

there's nothing

in this life

I would

prefer over

that.

And so

there's been

this expression

of just,

man,

I can't wait

for this all

to be over,

the suffering,

the pain,

the agony,

all of it.

And I've

heard many

of you

express this

in similar

ways.

But here,

David assumes

we ought

to long

for a long

life to

see good.

And I am

so encouraged

by this.

Like me,

you've probably

looked at the

world and

just thought,

wow,

it was already

bad and it

just seems to

be aggressively,

unceasingly

getting worse

at a rapid

rate.

I can't even

keep up with

it.

Right?

We wake up

and the reality

is pretty much

every week we're

hearing about a

school shooting.

Right?

More anger,

more confusion,

more broken

families,

sexual revolution

is going on

in more directions

than ever imaginable

and on and on.

And this rightly

makes us all

just long

for Christ's

return,

long for heaven.

But even so,

David,

in the midst

of the same

fallen and

broken world,

holds out the

enticement.

Who desires

a long life

that they may

see good?

Who wants to

live a long life

and see good

despite all

the evil

in this world?

This was like

a Frodo

moment for me.

It was Sam

Wise just told

me, you know,

there's good

in this world

and it's worth

fighting for.

I mean,

it's just like,

oh, you know.

So how do we

find this good?

How do we

experience God

here and now?

How do we

live the good

in long life

in this fallen,

broken,

dark world

if the Lord

wills?

Well,

let's look at

David's teaching,

the second part

of our outline,

David's teaching

in verses 11

through 20.

So what is

David teaching?

As we said,

he's teaching

the fear

of the Lord

as he says

in verse 11

and he describes

it in verses

13 through 14

where he writes,

keep your tongue

from evil

and your lips

from speaking

deceit.

Turn away

from evil

and do good.

Seek peace

and pursue it.

According to

David,

the fear of the

Lord is obedience

or at least

it results

in obedience.

And that should

sound familiar,

right?

Doesn't that sound

like our study

of James

which we went

through recently?

Control your tongue,

practice good,

seek peace,

pursue it

wherever you

don't have it.

The good life

is not one full

of cursing

and bitterness

and anger

and conflict

and loose talk

or sin,

but it is full

of peace,

joy,

love,

harmony,

wholeness.

These good

things.

And we begin

this good life

according to

David,

we begin

this good life

by repenting.

Right?

He says,

turn away.

You could replace

that with the

language repent

from evil

and do

good.

Now,

perhaps you're

frustrated by

some of the

things I'm

saying like

earth to Zach,

people in this

life are evil

and they hate

us.

Right?

How can I

ever live in

peace when

they will

give me none?

How can I

ever hold my

lips when

they do

nothing but

let theirs

go?

How can I

not repay

evil for

evil?

But keep

reading verses

15 through

18 and

notice the

contrast.

David writes,

the eyes

of the

Lord are

toward the

righteous

and his

ears toward

their cry.

The face

of the

Lord is

against those

who do

evil to

cut off the

memory of

them from

the earth.

When the

righteous cry

for help,

the Lord

hears and

delivers them

out of all

their troubles.

The Lord

is near to

the broken

hearted and

saves the

crushed and

spirits.

So the

contrast,

God is

for the

righteous and

he opposes

the evildoer.

We won't

even remember

the wicked,

nor will

anyone remember

the wicked.

Their evil

lives and

the damage

they do

during those

lives is

so small,

so inconsequential

and so

brief.

As Job

18.5

says,

indeed,

the light

of the

wicked goes

out and

the flame

of his

fire gives

no light.

In other

words,

they will

all

die.

Nothing

will be

left of

them,

nothing

left of

their

works

or

anything.

There's

nothing

they can

do in

this life

that will

permanently

damage

us.

It will

not affect

our

eternity

with God.

And Jesus

picks up on

this theme

in Matthew

Matthew 10:28

10,

verse 28.

He says,

do not

fear those

who can

kill the

body

but cannot

kill the

soul.

Rather,

fear him

who can

destroy both

soul and

body in

hell.

In other

words,

fear God

alone.

He's picking

up on this

Psalm 34

idea.

Set aside

all your

worldly fears

in exchange

for a healthy,

good fear

of the

Lord.

word.

Now,

if you're

looking for

additional

reason or

encouragement

to pray this

week,

look no

further than

verses 15

and 17.

As a

God-fearer,

a person

practicing

righteousness,

the Lord's

ear is

toward your

cry.

You have

his attention.

And further,

when you cry

out to God,

he will

hear your

prayer and

he will

save you

out of all

your troubles.

Now,

this doesn't

mean he'll

answer any

prayer you

pray,

right?

He's not

going to

drop a

Lamborghini

out of

heaven.

That would

be ridiculous.

But this

is a promise

ultimately that

God will

bless you.

He will

strengthen

you to

endure in

your

troubles.

He will

eventually

remove your

troubles,

either in

this life or

by ending

your life and

bringing you

to heaven.

All will

be well

or blessed.

it.

Your prayer

will be

answered when

your prayer

reflects the

will of

God.

So commit

yourself to

prayer and

pray often,

pray long,

pray short,

pray,

and God

will hear

you and

answer.

And there's

something else

in these

verses I do

not want to

miss.

Notice that

David brings

up the

dwelling or

encamping

language again

in verse

18.

He says

the Lord

is near

to the

brokenhearted

and saves

the crushed

in spirit.

Now by

itself,

this may

not be

shocking to

you,

but I

found this

verse a

little shocking

in the

flow of

the chapter.

Just

moments ago

in verse

12,

David is

assuming we

want to

live long

lives to

see good.

And that

good is

real in

this life.

But here

he is saying

that the

faith community

is one

of broken

hearted

people.

People who

are crushed

in spirit.

And we

might see a

problem in

holding these

two things

out.

We want to

live long

lives to

see good

and yet

crushed in

spirit,

broken

hearted.

But David

has no

problem talking

in these

terms.

He has no

problem holding

both as

true.

And again,

I find this

so encouraging.

I find it

encouraging

because on

the one hand

I do see

good in

this life.

I love my

family.

I think about

my wife and

daughter all

the time when

I'm not with

them.

I spent two

weeks in

Louisville a

few weeks

ago and

basically spent

half my time

looking at

photos of

my baby

girl.

I love my

church family.

I love the

beauty of

nature.

I love

singing great

hymns that

praise God.

I love sharing

meals with

brothers and

sisters.

I mean,

I could go on

and on about

good things I

have seen and

experienced in

this life,

good things that

I have in

my life,

all by God's

grace and

kindness,

all of it

being so

good.

But at the

same time,

I feel exactly

what David is

talking about,

right?

Day to day,

crushed in

spirit,

brokenhearted.

You know,

primarily I think

about this because

of my own sin,

right?

Day to day,

recognizing that

I fail to

honor God

rightly in so

many ways,

in varying

ways,

in varying

degrees.

Likewise,

I am broken

hearted and

crushed in

spirit.

When I look

at the world

around us,

every day it

just seems like

everything's

falling apart

more and

more.

With all of

creation,

I'm groaning

for Christ's

return.

So why am I

encouraged by

these two

realities?

I'm encouraged

because they

are normal

and to be

expected in

the Christian

life.

I don't know

about you,

but whenever I

feel these things

in tension

in my mind,

in my heart,

I sometimes

start to think

like I'm

weird or

something's

wrong,

you know,

that I can

swing from

one degree

to the other

so quickly

by the hour.

But it is

normal.

And I'm

encouraged because

David and his

followers felt

this way,

thought this

way, right?

I'm not the

only one.

The same God

who proved

faithful,

able,

and gracious

to sustain

David will

sustain me

and he

will sustain

all of us

who believe.

In fact,

look at the

next two

verses,

verses 19

through 20.

David writes,

many are the

afflictions,

so they're

real,

he's recognizing

them,

though they're

small,

though they're

brief,

there they

are.

Many are

the afflictions

of the

righteous,

but the

Lord delivers

him out of

them all.

He keeps

all his

bones,

not one

of them

is broken.

So though

there may

be many

afflictions

of many

kinds

and many

degrees,

the Lord

delivers us

out of

all of

them.

Not one

bone is

broken,

meaning he

keeps us,

he preserves

us,

no one

and nothing

can interfere

with God's

plan,

with what

the Lord

has in

store.

That is

David's

teaching,

fear the

Lord,

obey the

Lord,

seek the

Lord,

and he

will not

disappoint.

So David's

conclusion,

verse 21

through 22,

he writes

in verse 21,

Affliction

will slay

the wicked,

and those

who hate

the righteous

will be

condemned.

The Lord

redeems

the life

of his

servants.

None of

those who

take refuge

in him

will be

condemned.

So notice

that shift.

We believers

will be

delivered

from our

afflictions,

while the

wicked

will be

delivered

to

affliction.

God will

punish the

ungodly.

It is only

a matter

of time.

And frankly,

even now,

their punishment

has begun

to some degree

because they

are without

God.

They refuse

to taste

and see

his goodness.

They don't

even know

how to

enjoy this

life.

They're

denying

themselves

true delight

in God

for false

delight

in their

idols.

they hate

God

and they

hate

God's

people

and on

both

accounts

they will

be

condemned.

Justice

will

reign.

And I

think it

is fitting

that David

in this

circumstance

where he's

reflecting on

such a

moment,

right,

in this

fleeing of

Saul,

this fleeing

of the

Philistines

with his

men,

facing

death,

facing

unnecessary

persecution

in the

sense that

it is

evil and

wrong,

facing all

these things

and his

final thoughts

are on

the future,

on judgment,

on the

great day

in which

Christ will

come and

separate the

goats from

the sheep.

He finds

comfort in

knowing that

I don't have

to right the

wrongs,

there is a

lawgiver,

there is a

judge,

there is a

king and

he is

coming who

is able

and powerful

to save

and to

destroy,

who will

bring about

justice.

So for

those who

have truly

repented,

who have

sought the

Lord in

our

brokenness,

like David,

we will

not be

condemned,

we will

not be

ashamed,

but we

will be

delivered.

Let's

pray.