1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me:
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them. NIV
Most of Psalm 34 was written as a poetic acrostic. Each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though two letters are not included). This psalm was thoughtfully and intentionally crafted to communicate some key discoveries about what God does for us.
::::: DIGGING DEEPER :::::
Take a moment to understand the background of this psalm in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. David is being hunted by King Saul, so he tries to seek temporary refuge with King Achish of Gath. While there, David devises a "crazy" plan to stay alive. With this in mind, how would you describe David's mood as he begins this psalm?
To whom is David speaking in verses 1-3? Do you know anyone who needs to hear what David is about to say?
In verse 4, what is David's simple testimony? Have you ever had a prayer answered by God in a way that freed you like this?
Look at verses 5-7. Imagine David's story, both from 1 Samuel 21:10-15 but also from what he experienced in his life up to this point. Describe what he has learned about God through all he has gone through.
::::: EQUIPPING CHALLENGE :::::
If we don't seek God for anything, we certainly won't recognize any of our prayers being answered. In the next 24 hours, seek after God and then be alert for God's response.
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