TASTE-Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left. (1 Sam 21:10-22:2) [14 psalms with headings relating to the life of David]. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (Ps 34:1). [Acrostic psalms: 9-10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145.]
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Ps 34:8). “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps 119:103)
Divine intervention in a critically dangerous situation is how Psalm 34 is linked thematically with Psalm 35. Psalm 34 looks back to deliverance; Psalm 35 is still looking forward and teaches how to handle the waiting period. Both psalms also feature “the angel of the Lord” (Ps 34:7; 35:5-6).
- Personal Testimony (1-7). Rejoice with me.
- Personal Teaching (8-22). Learn from me.
What do you do when you’re in trouble?
- Worship [‘Bless’] God: “I will extol [praise, bless] the Lord at all times” (Ps 34:1).
- Seek God: “I sought the Lord, and he answered.” “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him” (Ps 34:4, 6).
- Taste God: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8).
- Fear God: “…listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Ps 34:11).
- Trust God: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Ps 34:19).
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) in Psalm 34.
1. “…let the afflicted hear and rejoice” (Ps 34:3).
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:10).
2. “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him” (Ps 34:6).
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3).
3. “…those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (10). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Mt 5:6).
4. “…keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies” (Ps 34:13).
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Mt 5:8).
5. “…seek peace and pursue it” (Ps 34:14).
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).
How does Psalm 43 point to Christ?
- “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them (Ps 34:7).
1. Jesus was helped by angels.
–“Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him” (Mt 4:11).
–“…he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him” (Mk 1:13).
–“An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Lk 22:43-44).
- “…he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken” (Ps 34:20).
2. Jesus on the cross fulfils God’s promise.
–“But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.”
–“These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken’” (Jn 19:33, 36).
- “I will extol [praise, bless] the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (Ps 34:1).
3. Jesus praised [blessed] God perfectly…always.
–“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
–“…we have one [a high priest] who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
–“…the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19).
*** “I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29).
- “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8).
4. Jesus “tasted” death…for us.
—“But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).
