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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
PSALM 34
LESSON #26
FAITH AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD
MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 34:1
PSALM 34 IS ANOTHER ACROSTIC PSALM. IT HAS 22 VERSES AND EACH VERSE BEGINS WITH ASUBSEQUENT LETTER OF THE HEBREW ALPHABET.
PRIMARY INTERPRETATION AND PERSONAL APPLICATION:
THERE IS A TITLE FOR THIS PSALM THAT RELATES IT TO AN INCIDENT IN DAVIDS LIFE.THE TITLE IS ABOUT DAVID WHEN HE CHANGED HIS BEHAVIOR BEFORE ABIMELECH.
FOR BACKGROUND READ 1SAM 21:10-15
NOTICE THAT PSALM 34 SAYS THIS BEFORE “ABIMELECH” WHILE 1SAM 21 SAYS”ACHISH”. DOES THE BIBLE HAVE A MISTAKE IN IT?
NO. THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD. THERE ARE NO MISTAKES. THEN HOW DO WE EXPLAINTHE TWO DIFFERENT NAMES?
THE NAME “ABIMELECH” IS ACTUALLY A ROYAL TITLE. IT IS LIKE THE NAME”PHARAOH” OR “CAESAR”. THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT PHARAOHS, ANDMANY DIFFERENT CAESARS, JUST AS THERE WERE DIFFERENT ABIMELECHS. THISABIMELECHS PERSONAL NAME WAS ACHISH.
THE STORY:
KING SAUL HAD DISPLEASED GOD AND SAMUEL HAD ANOINTED DAVID TO BE THE NEXT KING. SAUL WASJEALOUS OF DAVID AND SOUGHT TO KILL HIM. THEREFORE, DAVID WAS FLEEING FOR HIS LIFE FROMKING SAUL. SAUL WAS A POWERFUL MAN WITH A LARGE ARMY. DAVID HID IN CAVES AND TRAVELED THEBACK ROADS. HE OBTAINED FOOD WHEREVER HE COULD, OFTEN FROM THE HANDS OF SYMPATHIZERS, ORFROM THE LAND ITSELF. HIS SITUATION WAS GETTING DESPERATE BECAUSE SAUL HAD CHASED HIM INTOTHE WILDERNESS. THIS AREA IS AN UNFORGIVING DESERT WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER. DAVID WASDESPERATE. FINALLY HE DECIDED TO FLEE TO GATH. THIS WAS PHILISTINE LAND. THE PHILISTINESWERE ISRAELS GREATEST ENEMY. REMEMBER DAVID KILLED THE GIANT, GOLIATH, SEVERAL YEARSPREVIOUS TO PSALM 34? GOLIATH WAS A PHILISTINE. DAVID HAD BECOME SO DESPERATE, HE SOUGHTREFUGE WITH THE ENEMY.
WAS THIS GODS WILL? NO, IT WAS NOT. IT WAS A LACK OF FAITH THAT CAUSED DAVID TO DOTHIS.
SOMETIMES OUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS BECOME SO GREAT AND OVERWHELMING THAT OUR FAITH FAILS. WEFEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE FORSAKEN BY GOD AND THAT HE WILL NOT HELP US. THIS WAS DAVIDSSITUATION. HIS FAITH WAS WEAK. WHEN WE ARE IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION, THERE IS A TENDENCYTO SEEK REFUGE AND HELP FROM THE WORLD. WE TRY TO WORK OUT THE PROBLEM ON OUR OWN. WETHINK GOD HAS FORGOTTEN US AND WE NEED TO RELY ON OURSELVES FOR A SOLUTION.
DAVID THOUGHT HE COULD GO TO GATH AND NO ONE WOULD RECOGNIZE HIM. NO ONE WOULD REMEMBERHE HAD KILLED GOLIATH. HOWEVER, NOTICE IN 1SAM 21 THAT EVEN THE SERVANTS INABIMELECHS PALACE KNEW WHO DAVID WAS. EVEN THE ENEMY KNEW HE HAD BEEN ANOINTED TO BEKING OF ISRAEL. DAVIDS REPUTATION WAS GREATER THAN HE HAD THOUGHT. SUDDENLY DAVIDBECAME AFRAID FOR HIS LIFE. HE DECIDED TO PRETEND THAT HE WAS SOME INSANE MAN. AS ARESULT, THE PHILISTINES DID NOT KILL HIM BUT LET HIM GO.
READ PSALM 34:1-11 DAVIDS LESSON IN TRUST (FAITH)
FROM THIS PSALM WE DISCOVER WHAT DAVID LEARNED FROM HIS FAILURE TO TRUST GOD IN ADESPERATE SITUATION. WE CAN LEARN FROM DAVIDS EXPERIENCE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAISE: (1-3)
“I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES” (1)
DAVID LEARNED THAT HE NEEDS TO PRAISE GOD IN THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD TIMES. ITSEASY TO PRAISE GOD IN THE GOOD TIMES. ITS HARDER TO PRAISE HIM WHEN EVERYTHING ISBAD. IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO DO TO MAINTAIN YOUR FAITH.WITHOUT PRAISE, YOUR FAITH WILL SLIP, AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN DEEP DEPRESSION.
“OH, MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME…” (3)
THIS IS A CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS AWAY FROM YOUR PROBLEMS AND DIRECTED TOWARD GOD. A FOCUSON GOD ENABLES YOU TO PRAISE HIM.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PAST DELIVERANCE: (4-6)
“I SOUGHT THE LORD AND HE HEARD ME…” (4)
DAVID REMEMBERED ALL THE TIMES THAT GOD DELIVERED HIM FROM HIS ENEMIES.
TO FREE YOURSELF FROM FOCUSING ON YOUR PROBLEMS, IT HELPS TO REMEMBER THE
BLESSINGS GOD HAS POURED UPON YOUR LIFE IN THE PAST.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD: (7)
“THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPETH ROUND ABOUT…” (7)
WHO IS THIS? IT IS AN APPEARANCE OF THE PRE-INCARNATE JESUS CHRIST.
WE DISCOVER THAT “THE ANGEL OF THE LORD” APPEARS AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGH THEOLD TESTAMENT. IF YOU EXAMINE EACH SITUATION CAREFULLY YOU DISCOVER THAT THIS IS NOORDINARY ANGEL.
FOR EXAMPLE IN EXO 3:2-6 MOSES COMES TO REALIZE THAT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD IN THE BURNINGBUSH IS GOD HIMSELF.
NOTICE WHAT DAVID SAYS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN VERSE 7.
HE ENCAMPS AROUND THOSE THAT FEAR HIM.
WE ARE TO FEAR GOD AND TRUST IN HIM INSTEAD OF HAVING FEAR OF SOME PHYSICAL SITUATION.REMEMBER THAT FEAR IS A SIN BECAUSE IT IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH.
DAVID GIVES NINE STEPS INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD DURING TIMES OF FEAR.
1. PRAISE THE LORD (1)
2. BOAST IN THE LORD (2)
3. MAGNIFY THE LORD (3)
4. SEEK THE LORD (4)
5. LOOK TO (FOCUS ON) THE LORD (5)
6. CRY TO OR CALL ON THE LORD (6)
7. TASTE THE LORD (8) WE ARE INVITED TO TASTE OR TRY HIM; TO PROVE THAT HE WILL DOEVERYTHING HE SAYS HE WILL DO.
8. SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD (8) THIS INVOLVES WAITING ON THE LORD TO WORK OUT THESOLUTION IN HIS TIMING.
9. FEAR THE LORD (9)
NOTICE THE RESULTS OF THESE 9 STEPS:
1. DELIVERANCE FROM FEAR (4)
2. A RADIANT FACE (5)
3. THE LORD WILL HEAR YOU (6)
4. THE LORD WILL SAVE YOU FROM TROUBLE. (6)
5. DELIVERANCE FROM THE PROBLEM (7)
6. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE GOODNESS OF GOD. (8)
7. YOU WILL BE BLESSED (9)
8. YOU WILL LACK NOTHING (9)
READ PSA 34:12-22 CONDITIONS BY GOD
DAVID EXPERIENCED THE BLESSINGS OF GOD. HOWEVER, HE ALSO LEARNED THAT GODS BLESSINGSARE CONDITIONAL. (REMEMBER THAT SALVATION IS NOT CONDITIONAL. IT IS A FREE GIFT GIVEN BYTHE GRACE OF GOD.) MANY TIMES WE SEE PROMISES IN THE WORD OF GOD AND MARVEL OVER THEM ANDCLAIM THEM IN PRAYER FOR OUR LIVES. HOWEVER, FREQUENTLY WE FAIL TO LOOK AT THE CONDITIONSTHE WORD OF GOD PUTS ON THOSE PROMISES. WHEN WE DO NOT SEE THAT PROMISE FULFILLED IN OURLIVES, WE DOUBT GOD. IN FACT, IT IS NOT GOD WHO HAS FAILED, IT IS US. WE HAVE FAILED TOFULFILL THE CONDITIONS THAT GOD PLACED ON THE PROMISE.
FOR EXAMPLE:
THE CONDITIONS TO RECEIVING BLESSINGS FROM GOD IN PSALMS 34:10-15
1. YOU MUST SEEK GOD (10) (MAT 6:33)
2. YOU MUST LISTEN TO GODS DIRECTION (GUIDANCE) (11)
3. YOU MUST KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL (13)
4. YOU MUST DEPART FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD (14)
5. YOU MUST SEEK AND PURSUE PEACE IN ALL YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. (14)
6. YOU MUST HAVE AN HUMBLE HEART (18)
7. YOU MUST HAVE A CONTRITE SPIRIT (18)
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
“CONTRITE” LITERALLY MEANS = WORN OR BRUISED; WITH PRIDE REMOVED.
IT MEANS TO HAVE YOUR SPIRIT OPEN TO THE HOLY SPIRITS CONVICTION; TO BE QUICK ANDWILLING TO CONFESS AND REPENT OF YOUR SINS.
8. YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR FAITH IN GOD (22)
SUMMARY:
WHEN DAVIDS FAITH FAILED HIM IN THE DESERT, HE LOOKED FOR HELP FROM THE ENEMY. HEQUICKLY SAW THAT HE HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND FOUND A WAY TO FLEE FROM THE ENEMY. OUR ENEMYIS SATAN. IT IS ALWAYS A MISTAKE TO SEEK HELP FROM THE ENEMY IN TIME OF TROUBLE. LEARN TOTRUST IN GOD AND FOCUS ON HIM IN TIME OF TROUBLE.
REMEMBER: “THE WILL OF GOD ACCORDING TO HIS WORD” Anonymous
THE WILL OF GOD WILL NEVER TAKE YOU:
WHERE THE GRACE OF GOD CANNOT KEEP YOU,
WHERE THE ARMS OF GOD CANNOT SUPPORT YOU,
WHERE THE RICHES OF GOD CANNOT SUPPLY YOUR NEEDS,
WHERE THE POWER OF GOD CANNOT ENDOW YOU.
THE WILL OF GOD WILL NEVER TAKE YOU:
WHERE THE SPIRIT OF GOD CANNOT WORK THROUGH YOU,
WHERE THE WISDOM OF GOD CANNOT TEACH YOU,
WHERE THE ARMY OF GOD CANNOT PROTECT YOU,
WHERE THE HANDS OF GOD CANNOT MOLD YOU.
THE WILL OF GOD WILL NEVER TAKE YOU:
WHERE THE LOVE OF GOD CANNOT ENFOLD YOU,
WHERE THE MERCIES OF GOD CANNOT SUSTAIN YOU,
WHERE THE PEACE OF GOD CANNOT CALM YOUR FEARS,
WHERE THE AUTHORITY OF GOD CANNOT OVERRULE FOR YOU,
THE WILL OF GOD WILL NEVER TAKE YOU:
WHERE THE COMFORT OF GOD CANNOT DRY YOUR TEARS,
WHERE THE WORD OF GOD CANNOT FEED YOU,
WHERE THE MIRACLES OF GOD CANNOT BE DONE FOR YOU,
WHERE THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD CANNOT FIND YOU.
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A PURPOSE. WE MAY NOT SEE THE WISDOM OF IT ALL NOW, BUT TRUST ANDBELIEVE IN THE LORD THAT EVERYTHING IS FOR THE BEST.
PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION:
THERE ARE SEVERAL VERSES IN THIS PSALM THAT ARE PROPHETIC OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE PRESENCEOF HIS ENEMIES.
VS. 18 “THE LORD IS NEAR UNTO THOSE WHO ARE OF A BROKEN HEART…” = THIS ISJESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE WHERE HE PRAYED BEFORE HIS ARREST.VS. 19″…”THE LORD DELIVERETH HIM OUT OF THEM ALL” = NOTICE IT DOES NOTSAY HE DELIVERS THEM. THEREFORE, IT REFERS TO JESUS IN HIS LAST DAYS OF EARTHLYMINISTRY.
VS. 20 “HE KEEPETH ALL HIS BONES; NOT ONE OF THEM IS BROKEN.” =
READ JOH 19:36
HOMEWORK
PSALM 35
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF PSA 34
WHICH CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING GODS BLESSINGS DO YOU ESPECIALLY NEED TO WORK ON INYOUR LIFE?
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO STRENGTHEN THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE?
PREPARATION FOR PSA 35
READ PSA 35:1-28
FOR BACKGROUND, READ 1SAM 24
THIS IS A PRAYER AGAINST KNOWN AND HIDDEN ENEMIES.
WHAT PRINCIPLES DO YOU DISCOVER IN THIS PSALM FOR DEALING WITH ENEMIES?
MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 35:18
