Psalm 34: Magnify the Lord

The context of the song that we can look out tonight is set in that account of David being pursued by Saul and you can see that in the superscription of the Psalm.

Some of the Psalms you know they have these descriptions at the very beginning, giving us the context of Solomon. If you look there on Psalm 34 of Psalm of David says when he changed his behavior before Abimelech so that he drove him out and he went away and just as we look at the context of this Psalm I would like to just very quickly look at the passage of Scripture that is that gives us this account. It's back in first Samuel chapter 20 once if you turn there is very quickly and what is read through these verses first Samuel chapter 21 in the context Saul is pursuing David.

This is obviously after David has killed Goliath's life has been saved by Jonathan and as we know Saul with his jealousy and his desire to kill David is pursuing him and we began here in first Samuel 21 verse 10 it says David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to ages. The king of Gath, Gath, interestingly, is where Goliath was from and the servants of H are said to him, is not this David, the king of the land. Do they not single one another of him and dances. Saul has struck down is thousands. David is 10,000 words spoken when David returned in victory and David took these words to heart, and was much afraid of ages. The king of Gath, so he changed his behavior before them, and he pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.

The nature said to his servants, behold, he see the man is mad.

Why then, if you brought him to me by lack mad men that you brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence, shall this fellow come into my house so David feigning his insanity acting as a madman here is able to escape and so that's the setting of Psalm 34 and it says right there. As we just read that David feared ages in an obviously a fearing for his life, and I think I context gives extra meaning to the Psalm as we read through it because you think of David in that situation. In a time of such incredible isolation and danger. We see this Psalm that such a Psalm of joy and such a desire for the community of God magnify the Lord with me and led his let us exalt his name together.

Beautiful expression. The as we before you read through it that's wanted to mention a couple things as well about the content of the Psalm.

This is one of the Psalms.

That's an acrostic. It takes the 22 verses each start with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so there and in the beautiful rhythm in the cadence of the verses as you see that and so it doesn't flow so much like a narrative but yet there is flow and there is theme to this Psalm and one of the things that comes out beautifully and it is union of worship and of witness see that as we read through it and that's really the theme of our lives as Christ followers is in it that we're worshiping God and were sharing Christ and those two are not so much separate activities but part really of breathing in and breathing out, that will continually be praising the Lord and also I we see as we read through this song that the pattern in the rhythm of Revelation. In response, that's really our Christian life isn't God reveals himself to us and we respond that central not only in our worship, but in all of our Christian life. God has revealed himself to us through creation through our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, and through his word, we see him we have a relationship with him through Christ, and we respond and so we see that as we read through this Psalm to read and read straight through it and treat these verses together.

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 here and be glad 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. Those who look to him are radiant. Their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all of his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him delivers them will taste and see that the Lord is good and blessed is the man who takes refuge in him or fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him, have no lack the young lion's supper and want, and the young lion suffering want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord, lack no good thing, will children listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What manage their desires life and loves many days that he may see good. Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking deceit turn away from evil and do good.

Seek peace and pursue it. 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 from all their troubles Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 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. Affliction will slay the wicked and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. Lord redeems the life of his servants, none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned spray together.

Father, we thank you for these incredible words their life to us and we pray that as we look into your word and your spirit. I would make these words father alive in our hearts and that tonight would be part of the process of having our minds renewed in our lives conformed to the image of your son. Father, we do thank you and praise you and pray that you would teach us in Christ's name.

Amen. As we look through this and I taken the approach of God's revelation and our response will look at some of the principles in this Psalm that are taught about God what is God telling us about himself and I think there are several of his attributes and his actions that are mentioned here serves when a listers about nine or 10 and we want to list each one of these, or at least most of them in the first one here in verse four is a God hears us, and he delivers us. God hears us.

And he delivers us the word deliver is found several times in this Solomon is theme of the song and we have this promise here that's it is reflected in verse six as well. This poor man cried probably dishonest.

Speaking of himself in the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles, God is our deliverer, he delivers those who love him.

He hears us another a benefit or blessing of the Lord in verse five, those who look to him are radiant.

God lifts the countenance of those who love him. Those who look to him are radiant. He uplifts our countenance. Those who seek him. Verse seven.

Another great benefit of the Lord is that he is our protector and he is our defender says in verse seven that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

God is our protector and our defender so he delivers he uplifts our countenance. He protects us he defends us. Verse eight taste and see that the Lord is good, saw that this morning and Psalm 107 as Dr. Elmore spoke to us in stressing this principle that God is good. The Lord is good. It says in verse nine.

In verse 10 we see there that the Lord supplies our needs says in Philippians out of his riches in Christ Jesus. He provides for us.

Verse nine fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him, have no lack the young lion suffering want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord, lack no good thing God supplies in the psalmist here uses the picture of the lion at the top of the food chain. It's hard to imagine that the lion would go hungry of the Lions do suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord God is much greater. He provides those who seek the Lord, lack no good thing. He is all sufficient. He supplies our needs.

Another benefit of the Lord to look down in verse 15 says the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. Verse 17 with the righteous cry for help. The Lord hears them and delivers them out of all of their troubles.

So here we have the promise that God sees and that he hears that he is watching over us goodbye.

Example of a parent watching over their child how much greater is our father in heaven that he watches over us. He's always paying attention divinely. He is always watching us. Given here is eyes, ears, toward our cry and he hears our cry for help.

God is paying attention to us. He he he sees and hears verse 16 the Lord of the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth, so allow the Lord looks with favor and is always watching on his chosen ones. Those who do you do evil have the face of the Lord against them. God resists the proud, gives grace to the humble.

He approach he opposes the evil ones.

These principles of the Lord that he is our deliverer, he lifts our countenance. He protects and defends verse eight he is good. Verses nine and 10 is all sufficient.

He supplies our needs.

He sees he hears is watching us. He rejects the evil one in a great rich promise. Here in verse 18 the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and he saves the crushed in spirit. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted sewing times in our lives where we have grief great despair great sadness we know that we have.

Uniquely, the Lord is omnipresent is present at all times. Somehow uniquely Mandan manifests himself in a special way to the brokenhearted great promise for us to remember in times of difficulty and it says to there that he saves the crushed in spirit. Think of the words of Paul in the New Testament in second Corinthians 4, where he says he struck down, but not not destroyed.

He's afflicted in every way, but not crushed, not destroyed. The Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit. So and then lastly here in verse 22 says the Lord redeems the life of his servants, none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned and the great benefit of God, who is our Redeemer. Some of the promises I think it's a good know that as we walk with the Lord as we look in his word. We desire to know him and we we learn of these these great attributes in these promises that we have of God is he's revealed himself. So what is our response to our great God and of the way that this Psalm flows. There are several items that repeated but are repeated so to share just a few principles of our response to our great God as we seek.

As it says in verse three to magnify the Lord to praise his greatness by principles for us from this song.

First of all praise the Lord. Personally, continually and congregation only know that's a lot to praise the Lord. Personally, continually and congregation only is great verses in verse one through three.

It says bless the Lord at all times. What is it mean to bless means to speak well of to speak favorably.

God blesses a receipt blessing in the Bible. It's it's a favorable word spoken of in this what we we bless the Lord, we speak favorable words, not just empty words. Of course from our lips, but from our very hearts to to speak well of God and how do we do that it how are content to be done at all times is praise will continually be in my mouth. So as we praise him personally. We praise him continually wants to keep verse two says my soul makes its boast in the Lord of the humble here and be glad love instances love the abounding words of of that verse that my soul makes it boast in him. This is not just vain words out of an empty heart. This is a heart that's abounding in praise and overflowing to praise God.

My soul makes it boast in him, sorta praise him personally. Here, look at all the personal pronouns I will bless the Lord his praises in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord of the humble here and be glad it's to be continual but it continual but it's also to be Congregational.

Verse three is so important gives us such a great principle of worshiping the Lord together magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. That's really a theme throughout this song God has rescued he has saved this poor man. The psalmist, he is full of praise for God and not only the vertical but he wants to praise God and he wants everybody as well to join in that praise, worshiping the Lord and witnessing to others.

I think it's a beautiful picture of the body of Christ as we worship together it. When we gather together love this verse magnify the Lord with me. It's kind likely we have our arm around each other, you know were coming.

Come on let's go.

Let's worship the Lord together beautiful words of community and I think you know sometimes where were very individualistic society are we can become very very it's it's in our DNA part of our heart is prone to wander, we can be very, very individualistic, and of course have a personal responsibility and throughout the Psalms.

We have many instances of personal praise I will praise the Lord. I love you Lord is very appropriate to sing and to say those words but it's left incomplete. If it's not part of a congregation and notice the plural here that magnify the Lord let us exalt his name together.

So it's important principle even in our worship as we gather of the of the body of Christ become as individuals to praise his name. We come the great benefit of the body of Christ and of worshiping him together. Praise the Lord. Personally, continually and congregation only second principle of verses 423 10 seek the Lord, all of your heart. Seek the Lord with all of your heart that stated in different ways. In these verses, verse four very directly. I sought the Lord, he answered me.

Verse five.

Those who look to him are radiant. Verse six this poor man cried.

The Lord heard the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him.

Verse eight taste and see that the Lord is good.

Verse nine fear the Lord, you his saints. Verse 10 those who seek the Lord lacked no good thing all different ways of saying to seek the Lord of all of our heart to look to him to cry out to him in times of trouble to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Is that a beautiful bursa familiar verse.

Psalm 34, eight, and it and the tasting is not not just a sip not just putting our tongue to. It's not just a sip.

It's tasting is experiencing that the Lord is good and is reflective of all of these verses and in pursuing God. We know that there is none who seeks after God. He plants that seed in our hearts to desire him. That's part of this great grace, but once redeemed were to pursue God were to seek him, not just note, not just at the periphery of our lives, obviously, but would be seeking him to pursuing him to be pursuing him and all that we do seek the Lord with all of your heart. Third principle in verses 11 and 12 listen and learn. Listen and learn.

Verse 11 combo 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 speaks in first Corinthians that knowledge can puff up, but love edifies so were not just seeking knowledge for information sake, so that we can know more than the person next to us, but were to be ever learning of the greatness of God ever growing in our relationship with him and are the way I were set up sometimes and learning a trade or profession, you know, we go to school we give most of our training and we spend less. The rest of Argyle lives with less training and working and sometimes I can translate into our Christian life can it were weak, memorized a bunch of verses when we were kids. Maybe if we had the benefit of growing up in a Christian home weekly come to coast a little bit as we get older and into the principle here is to be ever learning from the Lord ever listening the book of James sells to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry and that bridges over into these next verses here third principle lives.

Listen and learn. 1/4 principle on responding to God here is to be careful to obey, careful to obey. John 1421.

Whoever has my commands and obeys them is the one who loves me. The Lord said, and I will love him and will show myself to him, careful to obey our great God to verse 13 keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit turn away from evil and do good.

Seek peace and pursue it.

These verses are quoted in the New Testament in first Peter chapter 3 and here's an example.

Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking deceit that becomes I think sometimes in the church.

One of those acceptable sins gossip God's command is to keep our tongue from evil, says in Ephesians, to talk of sexual immorality, not let let not even a hint of it being named spoken among you, McKenna Kennett is drift into cultural kind of Christianity, but taking out of love and up in intensity and a hunger to obey God here. Keep your tongue from evil.

Maybe that's one of the principles we can apply as we Monday and Tuesday as we walk as we walk with the Lord to be serious about paying him sill to the best as we can. Not just partially, completely, wholeheartedly obeying the Lord at all times, whether seem by others or unseen careful obey Praise Lord. Personally, continually and congregation only of verses four through 10.

Seek the Lord with all your heart, third principle, listen and learn.

Another principle, be careful to obey one final principle here that runs throughout this Psalm preach the gospel to ourselves and others, always, always preach the gospel to ourselves and others.

Verse 22 submits to the beginning. This Psalm is an acrostic. It takes the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and starts each verse with a new thought about God and our response. However, one letter is is skipped over between verses five and six and in verse 22 comes in. Not as a part of the alphabet at all.

So, by design. This this verse is put here to jump off the page to us. It says the Lord redeems the life of his servants, none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned, so running from the beginning and throughout this Psalm and write back again is the theme of redemption. When we say that our souls posting in the Lord were praising him continually. It's always with the gratefulness that he has redeemed us, always reminding ourselves of the priority of the gospel.

Living by it and of course sharing it as well.

Lord is our Redeemer.

He is our rescuer. He is our deliverer. Vicki and I both grew up in Northeast Ohio and David and we met in college, but grew up very near each other and I was blessed to have cousins that that live close by me. Played a lot of sports together and her cousin that I was probably closest to him. I think he was six or seven years old. We had a flash flood in our town and he got caught in the flood and just before he was going under things and some kind goalie or something but somebody reached in and grabbed and saved them and thought massive picture of what the Lord does for us just before my cousin Bill went under sweetie reached in and grabbed and saved them. And I remember as a child talking about that. I hear my parents, my uncle and cousin talk about that in some of you probably had a simple maybe fan experience for somebody saved your life physically and how memorable that is number that in our family and how often.

That was spoken of and how. Understandably, how clear that is how much greater as followers of Christ we have the reality of the Lord has our only hope has reached down and rescued us. That should be a constant theme in our lives always aware of always reminding ourselves of the gospel, and always seeking to draw others and share with others so principles force their eyes. We worship the Lord as we witness of him and I love back at the beginning of the passage is to bless the Lord at all times.

Sprays shall be continually my mouth my soul boasting in him magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together to pray together and figure students are gonna lead us one of students you lead us in a final song here.

Let's pray together. Father, thank you for these great words of life and I pray it would be true of us as individuals that will be true of Calvary church. Thank you for the church father were so many a desire to praise you wholeheartedly.

And what an encouragement. What an inspiration that is in father we pray that you would help us, not just on Sunday but throughout our lives to bless your name at all times for you been so gracious to us all those who follow Christ have this testimony that we have cried out poor helpless and needy, and you have answered and delivered us and we say hallelujah what a Savior. Father, we thank you for the redemption that we have in Christ, and it is in the great name of our Savior that we pray. Amen