As pointed out in last week’s message; it is good to set aside a time for the Lord early in the morning.  Hopefully you made an appointment with our heavenly Father to meet together.  Sitting quietly in His presence, setting aside all other things that crowd your mind, then filling your mind with Holy God is sweet communion.  And you just can’t help but sing out praises to God who alone is worthy of all praise! 
 
“Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all of His benefits.”  Psalm 103:1-2
 
As I thought of the message for this week my heart was filled with joy as I was reminded of the grace of God; of His love, kindness and goodness, that ever keeps us secure in this world which is in chaos.  In my preparations I was led to Psalm 34.
 
The heading of Psalm 34:
“A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.”
David is praising the LORD as his provider and deliverer.  In fleeing from Saul, David fled to Gath.  (I encourage you to read the account in 
1 Samuel 21:10-22:1)
 
Psalm 34:1-3 David sings:
“I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.”
 
David appeals to the Lord and He responded,
“I sought the LORD , and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.”  Vs. 4
“This poor man cried out, and the LORD…
Saved him out of all his troubles.”  Vs.6
 
From his experiences David can, with all assurance, state,
“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.”  Vs.7 
(Those who fear the LORD are “those who revere and worship Him with awe.”   The Amplified Bible)
 
Then David goes on to encourage those who fear the LORD down through the ages and tells of the wondrous benefits,
“O taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the LORD you His saints!”  Vs. 8-9
And Vs. 10 goes on to tell us,
“…But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.”
 
David exhorts us in Vs. 11-12 to fear (revere) the LORD, child and man alike, who desires life.  Then he says,
“Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace, and pursue it.”  Vs. 13-14
 
With assurance David goes on to teach us of the LORD’S watchfulness and protection of those who revere and worship Him.
“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrances of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of all of them.” Vs. 15-19
 
I end with Vs. 22 which tells us of the gracious and glorious assurance of the one who takes refuge in the LORD!
“The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.”
 
Most holy and gracious God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with grateful hearts we thank you!
So we Sing:
“He gave me beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
That we might be trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord,
That He might be glorified.”
Amen