That's Just Insane!

Psalm 34

1 Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!

10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Thoughts:

Psalm 34 is another acrostic type psalm.

- Verse one is recalling the time when David pretended to be insane and Abimelech (Achish the king of Gath, Philistine) drove him away. See 1 Samuel 21:13 ESV — So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.

Isaiah 50:6 ESV — I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

When Jesus appeared before Pilate, Romes proxy for the emperor, he had already been beaten and spit upon at the home of Caiaphas see Matthew 26:67 ESV — Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him

  Pilate questioned Jesus, but couldn't find anything worthy of death and he even tried to have him released.

Pilate was amazed - Matt 27:14, Mark 15:5

He must have thought Jesus was insane because he did nothing to defend himself against his accusers. It almost seemed like he wanted to die, that's just insane, right?

- David fled to Achish, somewhere Saul never dreamed he would go. Jesus went to the cross to die something the rulers, principalities and powers never dreamed he would go. For them it was too far, too crazy to even consider. My thoughts,  crazy like a fox.

- verse two be glad for you have obtained real wisdom and strength, see proverbs 11:2 — When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Also 2 Corinthians 11:30 ESV — If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV — For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

- verse three, "praise GOD with me". This requires people getting together. See Hebrews 10:25 ESV — not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. The day is closer now than ever before, start praising.

- "Do not be afraid" apoears over 100 times in scripture. You get the distinct feeling GOD is trying to tell us something.

- verse five, when you spend time with GOD, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit it causes a time of reflection, literally.

 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Exodus 34:29-30  And Acts 4:13 - Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Verse seven - when the angel of the LORD encamps around you nothing in all of creation in it's right mind should come against you. When Joshua came across the angel of the LORD, the commander of the LORD's army he was all alone. No one or nothing was coming to or from the city of Jericho while he stood guard. 

Verse eight- the well known "taste and see" passage. GOD's word is our spiritual food, the bread of heaven (John 6:50), the Manna in the wilderness (John 6:31-33). Jesus said - Matthew 4:4 ESV — But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

How many times have you heard a parent say to a child, "how do you know you won't like - blank, you've never tried it." Taste and see requires a decision on our part, GOD is never going to force feed you. This is much akin to the second part of verse eight, blessed is the man who takes refuge in the LORD. GOD's not going anywhere, but it's up to the man to take refuge. GOD won't force us to himself where there's blessing and safety, that's totally up to the individual.

- Verse nine talks about the Holy ones should have a Godly fear (repect) of the LORD. Why is that important because there is Holy ones who fear him, but dont respect him enough not to rebel against him. One without the other is exactly the lane the Devil, his angels and the demons operate from.

- Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Revelation 5:5 he is the KING, the rest are young lions in comparison and like young lions they expend lots of energy and come up empty handed and they will spend time without nourishment. There is one in particular that the Apostle Peter talked about - 1 Peter 5:8 ESV — Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. This Lion is part of the fall whereas the KING is of the New Heavens and the New Earth. Isaiah 65:25 - "the lion shall eat straw like the ox. One is life, the other is death.

- David by the Spirit attempts to teach the fear of the LORD for all who desire life, many days, and good things from GOD.

    1) tame your tongue and speak truth.

    2) shun evil seek peace, chase it.

    3) be aware that GOD is always watching, always listening.

    4) remember GOD is the rewarder and the one dealing in retribution.

    5) GOD hears our cries for help. It is hard to realize sometimes that help here can be temporary in this existence or eternal and safe forever. ie Lazarus was raised from the dead (temporarily), but at some point he would be home with the LORD (permanent).

    6) GOD cares about broken hearted and the crushed in spirit. He was there for Martha and Mary, he cried, he understands.

    7) the righteous will face affliction? Wow don't tell that to a prosperity preacher. In this life we will have troubles? Who knew?

John 16:33 ESV — I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Oh right, Jesus told us to expect it.

- verse 20 is snuck in there by the SPIRIT prophetically. John 19:36 ESV — For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” It's one of those pieces, hints even the rulers, principalities, and powers couldn't figure out either. All that time spent going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it, and they missed it. Guess what... they won't fair any better with Revelation and end times either. If they had hair, they'd be pulling it out in clumps.

  Verse 21 - is for them and all those who threw in with the Devil and his crew.    

Verse 22 - is for all who belive on Jesus Christ - Romans 10:9 ESV — because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

My Prayer is that people would see thier tremendous need of verse 22.