An exposition of Psalm 34:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 20, 2009.
Introduction:
Have you ever been knocked down? Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you emotionally or spiritually? If you have, you are not alone. And if you have then you also know that being God’s child did not make you immune! The problem of the healthy, wealthy and wise theology of the prosperity Gospel is…well…it’s not true! We live in a fallen world. And because we do, rotten stuff happens. Hurtful experiences come along. God never promised us that we would not have trouble – he promised we would never be alone in the midst of our troubles. He promises to deliver us. Not from trouble but out of trouble. We are told – “you will experience tribulation in this life.” Such should not surprise us – however we are also assured that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Jesus said, “Fear not. I have overcome the world.” All of that is well and good but what are we to do when we find ourselves in the valley? What do we do when trouble rears its ugly head? What do I do when I’m “drowning” in tribulation? For some answers let’s turn again to the Psalms.
Text: Psalm 34:1-22
This is another of David’s psalms. We do have a title for this one – “when David pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.” It sounds like a country and western tune! But this is in reference to an event recorded for us in 1 Samuel 21:10-15.
Thesis: The righteous must respond to tribulation with courageous faith.
Spurgeon described this psalm as a hymn and a sermon. He said the first 10 verses consist of a hymn and verses 11-22 compose a sermon. That is a fairly accurate description for the first half calls us to worship and provides a testimony while the second half calls us to action.
There are five principles of courageous faith that I want you to note from this text.
- Courageous faith chooses to praise God in every situation. (34:1-3)
- Courageous faith remembers God’s goodness and grace. (34:4-7)
- Courageous faith is confident of the goodness of God. (34:8-10)
- Courageous faith demonstrates reverence through obedience. (34:11-14)
- Courageous faith puts its trust in God and God alone. (34:15-22)