Psalm 34 (ESV)


 

Psalm 34 is attributed to David the second king of Israel.  It is a song or poem that he wrote to celebrate the provision and the great power of the Lord God.  David wrote this psalm during a difficult time in his life.  He was the anointed king of Israel, but basically a fugitive from the current king, Saul.  He was being hunted by Saul and was being chased all over the land that God would place him in charge of.  Still, during this time, David rested in God and understood God’s sovereignty was not only his protection, but his hope for a future. 

Psalm 34 contains great reminders of the majesty of God.  Too often today we forget that God himself if in charge all things – both good and bad – that happen to us, and He promises to work all of them together for His plan.  Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work together for good.  That’s not always how it feels when we are in the middle of trials and trouble, but God is greater than all of life’s troubles and promises to work all things out for His glory.  We can rest in the arms of our wonderful Savor who promises never to leave us or forsake us.  Romans 8 ends with this this powerful verses that serve to remind us of the wonderful relationship we enjoy with our God and Creator.  

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,

nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 34 sets the stage for the wonder of this relationship with our God by reminding us how great God truly is.  We can rest in His power for our lives, our future, and our needs, because He loves us and cares for us.

I hope you will join us as we work together to memorize this important Psalm.  Each week we will work on two verses and review the prior verses.  We also will be releasing a new way to help you to remember the memory verse you are working on by providing you with beautiful desktop wallpaper to set as your background on your computer.  This will help you to think of the memory verse we are working on every time you look at your computer screen.  You will find these files in the post for each week as they are released. 

The photos for this series were all taken at Gillette’s Castle in East Haddam, CT. 

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

 

 Psalm 34 (ESV)
Week 1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
Week 2 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Week 3 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
Week 4 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Week 5 Oh, 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.
Week 6 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
Week 7 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Week 8 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.
Week 9 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Week 10 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.
Week 11 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.