Psalm 34

Time with the Lord in the Psalms! The notes you’ll find here are the nuts & bolts of my efforts to understand & apply the Psalms to my life. I hope that they’ll be an encouragement as you glean the Scriptures for guidance & encouragement.

You’ll notice 3 basic pieces to my notes: A basic outline, the question “What sticks out this time?” and the final question “What difference does this make?” These are the three regular parts of my time in the word. The outline will vary in length and detail. It’s simply a product of my efforts to understand & keep track of the flow of each Psalm. The first question is an effort to stay sensitive to what God is featuring for me as I read that day. The final question is an effort to apply the truth to my life – my thoughts, my choices, etc.

I want to profit from God’s word. As your brother in Christ, I want you to profit from it. I want you to carry these 3 basic pieces into every passage you study anywhere in Scripture.

Enjoy your time in the Word!

A Basic Outline
A commitment to ongoing praise, 1
The humble’s response to my commitment: gladness, 2
An invitation to corporate praise, 3
The record of past deliverance, 4-6
..I sought the Lord… He delivered
..they looked… Their faces were not ashamed
..this poor man cried… the Lord heard/saved
The agent of deliverance, 7
..the angel of the Lord
..encamped all around (nearness? effectiveness?)
An invitation to experience the Lord’s goodness via trusting Him, 8
Inspiration to fear the Lord, 9-10
..(fear in this context = trust, reverential respect)
..there is no want to those who fear
..those who seek…shall not lack
Practical teaching on fearing the Lord, 11-22
..invitation to learn to fear, 11
..inspiration to fear, 12
..ways to express our fear of the Lord, 13-14
….keep your tongue from…
….keep your lips from…
….depart from…
….seek peace and pursue it
..response of the Lord to those who fear, 15-22
….eyes on the righteous
….face against those who do evil
….the Lord hears… delivers… is near… saves
….the Lord delivers… guards
….evil shall slay the wicked
….the Lord redeems the soul of His servants

What sticks out?
The Lord’s response to our fear, our reverence and respect. There’s a laundry list of things You do.
What difference does this make?
It reminds me and inspires me to be very careful with my words and my thoughts, to not embrace thoughts that are out of line. I want to stay under Your umbrella as I walk through the many afflictions that will certainly be a part of this life. You are my deliverer in those afflictions.
I want to be near You… on Your terms. To say that I’m near You but not keep my tongue from evil is a waste of my time and Yours. I want to be near You on Your terms.

What sticks out?
“Seek peace and pursue it.”
What difference does this make?
That word “pursue” carries an intensity in its meaning and use elsewhere in scripture. Like an army that pursues its enemy so I should passionately pursue peace in my day to day living. I think it’s more appealing to pursue comfort or justice or vengeance than peace. Especially when I’m offended.
To pursue peace in those times is to leave vengeance to God. Romans 12:17-20 comes to mind.