Psalm 34 (Listen)

34:1   I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
  My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
  Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!
  I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
  Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
  The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
  Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
  Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10   The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11   Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12   What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13   Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14   Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.
15   The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16   The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17   When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18   The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.
19   Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20   He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21   Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22   The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.




Devotional:

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them. Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! You who are his holy ones, fear the LORD, for those who fear him lack nothing (Psalm 34:7-9 CSB).

Sandwiched between two verses referencing the fear of the Lord is an invitation to taste and see that the Lord is good. We were reminded when we went through Proverbs this past summer that to fear God is to honor Him as He really is. This fear is not a cowering fear, but the kind that instills honor, respect, and an awestruck reverence for God. Maybe the best way to “taste and see that the Lord is good” is to fear God as He really is — an awesome God who is worthy of our deepest honor and respect, and who also loves and redeems us. “The LORD redeems the life of his servants, and all who take refuge in him will not be punished.” God is indeed good!

Pray it: Father, you are good; help me to know and experience your goodness more today by fearing you and trusting in you. Thank you for watching over me and for being near to the brokenhearted. Amen.

Share it: Share a verse or thought from this passage with someone today.