Episode Transcript
Psalm 34 (NIV)
I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
CONSIDER THIS
Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. He holds the Methodist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School and served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary for fifteen years. Julie is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.
Psalm 34 is another one of the acrostic psalms in the Psalter. This psalm is dedicated to teaching us about the blessedness of following the righteous way, which begins with the fear of God: “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (v. 11). This psalm was written at the time when David was fleeing from Saul and had no safe place of refuge. Therefore, the heart of the psalm is found in verse 8, “Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” The Psalms as a whole seek to portray in broad outline what it means to be blessed. Throughout the Psalter there are twelve times when a form of the phrase “Blessed is the one” appears. If you examine each of the twelve it gives us a wonderful insight into the way of the righteous. Read each of these carefully and see how beautifully they outline the broad contours of the one who is blessed:
Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.”
Psalm 2:12: “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 32:2: “Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against him.”
Psalm 34:8: “Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Psalm 40:4: “Blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust.”
Psalm 41:1: “Blessed is the one who has regard for the weak.”
Psalm 65:4: “Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!”
Psalm 84:12: “Blessed is the one who trusts in you.”
Psalm 94:12: “Blessed is the one you discipline, O Lord.” Psalm 112:1: “Blessed is the one who fears the Lord.”
Psalm 119:1: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless.”
Psalm 127:5: “Blessed is the one whose quiver is full of [children].” What a wonderful picture of the blessed!
This psalm is also important for Christians since it is here that David declares that God “protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken” (v. 20), which is later quoted in John 19:33–36 when the soldiers did not break Jesus’s bones as he hung on the cross. It is a powerful sign of how God is our refuge and protector even in the fiercest trial.
For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent
THE HYMN
Sing Psalm 34 with the Seedbed Psalter today. We suggest the tune TOULON ("I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art"). You can hear the tune played online by Julie here. If you listen to the podcast audio version, we will sing the psalm in this same tune. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below.
1 All of my days I’ll bless and praise the Lord;
His praise will ever be within my mouth.
2 Boast, O my soul, extol the living Lord;
Let all the humble hear it and be glad.
3 Come, join with me to magnify the Lord.
Let us together praise His name on high!
4 Daily I sought; the Lord has answered me,
And He from all my terrors set me free.
5 Each one who looks to Him is not ashamed.
6 For this poor man called; the Lord heard and saved.
7 God’s righteous angel constantly encamps
around those fearing God and rescues them.
8 How good to taste the goodness of the Lord;
Bless’d is the man who trusts in Him alone.
9 In fear of God, you saints, forever dwell;
For those who fear God never suffer want.
10 Join not the lions hungering for food,
But trust the Lord instead, and have no want.
11 Know, children, come and listen unto me,
And I will teach you how to fear the Lord.
12 Love you long life and want to see good days?
13 May your tongue keep from evil and all lies!
14 Now from all evil flee—instead do good;
Seek peace and strive for it with heart and mind.
15 Open are His eyes toward the righteous ones;
God‘s ears attentive to their ev’ry cry.
16 Proud, evil men, the Lord‘s face does oppose;
Quickly He cuts their mem’ry from the earth.
17 Righteous cry out—the Lord will hear their cry;
Saves them from all their troubles and distress.
18 The Lord is close to every broken heart,
And saves those who are crushed in heaviness.
19 Under His care, the righteous still have trials;
Very sure is the Lord’s deliverance.
20 Well He protects their bones and does assure
not one of them will ever broken be.
21 eXpect that evil will slay wicked ones;
Yes, foes of righteous ones will be condemned.
22 Zion’s true servants, the Lord does redeem;
None who take refuge in Him stand condemned.
