For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 34

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.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the broken-hearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned

A. Find Out:    

1. What had David done & with what effect? v.4,6
2. What does he say about those who seek & fear God? v.5,7-10
3. What instructions does he give if you fear God? v.11-14
4. What does he say about the righteous person? v.15,17,19,20
5. What does he say about the evil man? v.16,21
6. So what does all this leave David wanting to do? v.1-3

B. Think:

1. What does the heading of this Psalm tell us about David’s situation?
2. What does David in the Psalm tell us about it?
3. What principles does he declare about knowing God?

C. Comment:

  David had been through the most difficult of circumstances (see “David on the Run” in this series). He had cried out to God and the Lord had delivered him. That, simply, is the basis of this Psalm. As a result of that he feels a number of things.

  First, he has a sense of praise and worship . That is the natural heart response of the man of God. Is it ours?

  Second, he has a sense of relationship . Relationship means interaction with God. He called to God and God had answered him.

Third, he has a sense of security . He says if we look to God we will be radiant. If we fear God He will put an angel to protect us.

Fourth, he has a sense of required righteousness . If you are going to have this sort of relationship with God then it has moral implications in your life. Careful what you say and do!

Fifth he has a sense of the rewards of righteousness . The person who is righteous before God will have God’s ear, and the Lord will deliver him from evil. Those who are crushed the Lord will restore.

Sixth, he has a sense of the awfulness of unrighteousness . The evil man will be opposed by God and cut off; he will be condemned and destroyed. What a warning!

D. Application:

1. A godly relationship brings many rewards. Am I aware of them?
2. Am I secure in the truths David presents in this Psalm?