Original Entry:
March 5, 2009
McMinnville, OR
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered
me from all m fears. Those who look
to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he
delivers them. Taste and see that the
Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those
who fear him lack nothing. The
lions may grow weak and hungry, but hose who seek the Lord lack no good
thing. Psalm 34:4-10
I have been a
Pittsburg Steelers fan since I was about eight years old. As I pen these words the Steelers have just
won an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl making them the uncontested best franchise
in NFL history. In my opinion the Patriots of 2008 were the best NFL team in
the history of the game until the Super Bowl when they were upset by the New
York Giants. The 2008 Pats will go down in infamy as the greatest team in the
history that couldn’t put it all together.
Whether it is leisure
or vocation in order to see success at some point we need to put it all
together. Psalm 34:4-10 is one of those passages that are
put together. From the start of verse
four to the end of verse ten, Psalm 34 reveals
a chain of events linking God to those who seek Him.
“I sought the Lord,
and He answered me” (4). Putting it all together begins and ends with seeking
the Lord. A life is never complete
without hunting for God in every situation and circumstance in life.
“And he delivered me from all my fears” (4).
As we commit to seeking him first He promises to deliver us. That deliverance may take on many forms but
God delivers those who seek Him from their deepest fears.
“This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him
out of all his troubles” (6). Look at the connection between being “delivered” and being “saved” from troubles. Trouble elicits fear and doesn’t result in
salvation until we have been delivered.
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him”
(7). Not only does He deliver but protects
us. In the wilderness I will urinate
around my camp site to protect myself from intrusive beasts. In reality God guards
the heart and mind of the men who seek Him (Philippians
4:6-7).
“Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack
nothing” (9). God is our provider.
“But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good
thing” (10). Talk about putting it all together! It all begins and ends with the great hunt
for God. A “good thing” is not a means to happiness but an end to those who,
you got it, seek the Lord.
