Hmmm... Psalm 34

Today's venture into Scripture brought me Psalm 34.

This is an amazing Psalm of praise to the Lord. The introductory sentence suggests this was written by David after his encounter with King Achish of Gath in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. There is some speculation because Achish is not named; instead the word Abimelech is used. This may just be a title (like King, or Majesty).

David exudes oodles of confidence in this Psalm. He has witnessed the Lord's provision in keeping him from harm. David makes so many bold statements of praise. I want to focus on just three of these statements.

In verse 3 David exclaims, "Magnify the Lord with me! Let’s praise his name together!"

What a confident exclamation! David proclaims people should magnify the Lord with him! Magnify means to increase or make greater. How can a human make the God of the universe, the God in whom we live, move and have our being, greater? It is very presumptious of David to make this statement, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't try. David wants to glorify God by making Him known to all people. One way to do this is to help others see God, and what He has done, even more. We should all follow David's brashness.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good!" is the next statement I want to note.

This comes in verse 8. David is making a profound statement about the reality of God. He is not distant! He is able to be experienced. There are few experiences we understand more than taste. Taste is palpable. God can be experienced in this way as well. But in order to understand, we have to actually test it out. No one understands a fine wine until having trusted that people are right when they say there is no taste experience better. In the same way, a continued testing of what the Lord has to offer will leave one with an understanding of a finer life.

Lastly, (though not exhaustively) I want to focus on verse 10. "Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."

Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing??? Can this be true? Do those who know and follow God have everything? Certainly not! Anyone can see that Christians fall on hard times just as much (and sometimes more) than non-Christians. So what does David mean by this? David is contending for the prodigious providence and fulfillment knowing God brings. When one truly knows and experiences life with God, then one truly lacks nothing, because God is all that is needed. A life with God is lacking in nothing, because we were created for the purpose of knowing and glorifying Him.

There are many more nuggets of wisdom in this passage of scripture. Some, like verse 10, are true, but hard to trust. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.