Our Daily Scripture – 12/31/23 (Sun)

SCRIPTURE:  PSALM 34

MEMORY VERSES:

‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

“Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” (Psalm 34:9)

“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:13-14)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

When Saul wanted to kill David, David fled to Bath and sought the protection of the enemy.  Because he did it out of the will of God, he had to escape.  This Psalm is David’s personal testimony of what God did for him.

WHAT GOD DID:  

  1.  He answered David’s cry and delivered him from all his foes. (v. 4)
  2.  He heard the call of the poor man and saved him out of his trouble. (v. 6)
  3.  He delivered all those who fear Him. (v. 7)
  4.  To those who fear Him, they lack nothing. (v. 9)
  5.  He gives goods things to those who seek Him. (v. 10)

BENEFITS OF BEING RIGHTEOUS:

  1.  The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. (v. 15)
  2.  The Lord hears when the righteous cry out (v. 17a)
  3.  The Lord delivers the righteous from all their troubles. (v.17b, 19)
  4.  The Lord protects all the bones of the righteous.  Not one of them will be broken. (v. 20)
  5.  The foes of the righteous will be condemned. (v. 21)

GREAT BLESSINGS THAT GOD PROMISES:

  1.  He will set us free from our fears. (vs. 4, 6)
  2.  He will guard and rescue us. (v. 7)
  3.  He will show us His goodness. (v. 8)
  4.  He will supply our needs. (v. 9)
  5.  He will listen when we call him. (v. 15)
  6.  He will save those who are crushed in spirit. (v. 18)
  7.  He will deliver us from all our troubles. (v. 19)
  8.  He will protect us. (v. 20)
  9.  He will redeem us. (v. 22)

HOW TO GET HIS BLESSINGS:

  1.  Seek Him. (v. 4, 10)
  2.  Cry out to Him. (v. 6, 17)
  3.  Trust Him. (v. 8)
  4.  Fear Him. (v. 7, 9)
  5.  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. (v. 13)
  6.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (v. 14)
  7.  Serve Him by being His servants. (v. 22)

THOUGHTS:

“Taste and See” means “Try this and your will like it”.  We have to take that first step of obedience in following God to discover His goodness and kindness.  As we trust him daily, we can experience how good He is.

Those who belong to the Lord must show reverence to Him.  To revere the Lord means to show deep respect and honor to Him by our humble attitude and genuine worship.  It includes obeying God in the way we speak and the way we treat others.

All of us wants to live a peaceful life.  But peace does not come to us without effort.  We have to work hard at peace by not being argumentative and contentious.  Peaceful relationship requires us to work hard at living in peace with others each day.

God promises to be “close to the broken hearted”.  He is the source of power, courage and wisdom in helping us through our problems.  When troubles come, seek God’s help and thank Him for being by your side.