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.
This is the final two verses of Psalm 34 and the culmination of this passage. God redeems the life of his servant and those that take refuge in him will not be condemned. This passage celebrates the hope of salvation that we have in Christ.
Throughout this passage we have strong statements that God protects and cares for his people.
- 4 – The LORD answered me and delivered me from all of my fears
- 5 – Those who look on him shall never be ashamed
- 6 – The LORD heard him and saved him from all of his troubles
- 7 – (He) encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.
- 9 – Those that fear him have no lack
- 10 – Those that seek the LORD lack no good thing.
- 15 – The Eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, his ears toward their cry.
- 17 – the LORD hears and delivers them
- Vs 18 – The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
- 19 – But the LORD delivers him out of them all
These are strong statement that show the LORD’s love and protection for his people, but this final verse includes the phrase, “the LORD redeems the life of hiss servants,” This idea is different than simply God’s protection, his care or his provision. Redeem is a different word and contains the idea of paying the price for someone.
Webster’s dictionary defines Redeems as:
- to make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable
- to exchange (something, such as a coupon or lottery ticket) for money, an award, etc.
- to buy back (something, such as a stock or bond)
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redeem)
This great Psalm concludes with a reference of how God saves his people, but not only from the cares of this world, but from the price of their sin. Jesus is the payment that “bought us back” from the wages of our sin. How Great is our God who loves us and paid the price to redeem us?
Amen
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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