Psalm 34:17-22 - Trust in the LORD

I trust that you have enjoyed our study through Psalm 34 as much as I have. Today, we are going to finish our mediations on it as we look at these last 6 verses. Remember David is teaching us what we should do when we are in the dark caves of our lives. Those tough times when troubles and trials are overwhelming us and we can’t see anyway out. First, he invites us to “magnify the LORD with him and exalt His name together”. We can “bless the LORD at all times”, and that means continually, despite our troubles (vv. 1-3). Secondly, he tells us to “seek the LORD”, and when we do this with our whole heart we will “taste and see that the LORD is good” (vv. 4-8). Then in verses 9–16, David is teaching us what it means to “fear the LORD”, because “there is no want to those who fear Him”, and then we “shall not lack any good thing”(vv.9-10). Finally, in these last verses 17-22, David is encouraging us to put our “Trust in the LORD”. Nowhere in this Psalm, or anywhere else in Scripture are we taught that the life of faith and obedience will exempt the child of God from trouble (see vv. 4, 6,17, 19). Matter of fact, it appears to me that we actually invite trouble into our lives the more faithful and obedient we are. Jesus reminded His disciples that they would suffer persecution if they followed Him. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Jesus pronounced a special blessing on those who were persecuted for His name sake (Matthew 5:10-11). Job was one of the best people who ever lived. A whole book in the Bible was written about his story. Satan couldn’t find anything in his life to accused him of before God he was so upright. But God allowed him to suffer in unimaginable ways. We will suffer and find ourselves in the cave too, but it is there that the LORD will become more precious to us and we will experience His presence and love if we trust Him! The LORD does promise that, if we trust Him and call on Him, that He will see us through our troubles and make them a blessing to us, and through us to others. (See Psalm 28:7, Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews13:6.) He is also able to help us with our feelings, our “broken hearts” (v. 18). The assurance is that God is near us when our hearts are broken and our spirits are crushed, whether we “feel” like He is there or not. This is not a promise with conditions attached to it; it is a fact. (Psalm 69:20; 119:151; 147:3; Isa. 50:8 and 61:1; Luke 4:18.) The Lord will also take care of our physical safety (vv. 19-20) until our work is finished. The word "keep" means "to exercise great care over," as when Adam cared for the garden (Gen. 2:15) or Jacob cared for his sheep (Gen. 30:31).  Peter tells us to “cast all our cares upon Him, because He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). When Jesus saw the tears of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, and their friends at his grave we read that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus saw their broken hearts and it moved Him to tears. Jesus sees your tears today too! The apostle John quoted verse 20 in John 19:36 and applied it to Jesus, when He was dying on the cross for our sins. Finally, in verses 21-22, we are promised that there is no “condemnation” for anyone who trusts in Him! Why? Because Jesus took our condemnation on the cross as He died in our place and paid the redemption price for our sins! Remember Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” May the LORD help us, as He did David, in the dark and tough times of our lives, to “Bless the LORD at all times, to seek Him, to fear Him and to trust Him”! God bless!