Psalm 34:5 - How To Shine Like The Sun.
Psalm 34:5 - How To Shine Like The Sun.
Psalm 34:5 (CEV) Keep your eyes on the Lord! You will shine
like the sun and never blush with shame.
CONTEXT
Fearful that Saul would kill him, David fled to Gath and
sought the protection of the enemy (1 Sam. 21:10-22:2). But you are
never safe out of the will of God, and David had to lie to escape.
This psalm is David's personal testimony of what God did for him.
"I Will Bless" (1-10). David had every reason to praise the
Lord, for the Lord had rescued him from certain death. When you call
on the Lord in faith, He saves (vv. 4-6), He keeps (v. 7), and He
satisfies (vv. 8-10). Why run to the enemy when you can run to the Lord
and be safe?
"I Will Teach" (11-22). David wanted the next generation to
know the Lord and trust Him. He gave some wise counsel about how to
have "good days" (vv. 12-14; 1 Pet. 3:8-12), and he urged them to
call on the Lord in the time of trouble. God's eyes see your needs,
God's ears hear your prayers, and God is near you when your heart is
broken.
When God does something special for you, tell somebody else.
The next generation needs to know that God is alive. [Chapter by
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
Psalm 34 was written by a man who was in trouble and took
refuge in his God. He confidently writes that those who look to God
will be radiant and will find deliverance in him. In fact, those who
seek the Lord will "lack nothing" (verse 9).
Does that mean everyone who obeys God will experience a long
life full of only good things? No, of course not. Many of the martyrs
of the early church experienced persecution and, ultimately, death.
Today, people are still martyred for their belief in God. When we ask
God to fulfill his promises, we can trust that he will bring good to
our lives even in the midst of struggle, hard times or persecution.
[NIV Once A Day Bible re Psa. 34:1-10]
COMMENTARY
Those who came to God in prayer as David did found themselves
transformed; it was as if they also experienced what Moses had on Mount Sinai
(Ex. 34:29; 2 Cor. 3:18). [Nelson SB]
David's prayers helped to silence his fears; many besides him
have looked unto the Lord by faith and prayer, and it has wonderfully
revived and comforted them. When we look to the world, we are perplexed,
and at a loss. But on looking to Christ depends our whole salvation,
and all things needful. [Matthew Henry Commentary]
Give honor and glory to God by placing your worries at His feet.
He alone offers all the comfort and assurance we need for whatever
we're facing in our lives. Without Him, we'd be anxious, we'd be
afraid, we'd be hopeless - but with Him, we can be at peace, knowing He
is all we'll ever need. He will give us rest from the burdens of
life (Matthew 11:28). [The 365 Daily Promise Bible By Barbour re Psa.
34:4]
These verses tell us that although fear is a normal, human
reaction to danger or crisis, God has an antidote for our fear. We may
fear death, failure, or people. We may be frightened about taking a
new step, fearful of suffering, or anxious about what may happen
tomorrow. Whatever the circumstances, we don't have to be ashamed of being
afraid or stuff our fears down inside and try to look brave. The very
fear that plagues us can cause us to press into God's presence. He
invites us to pray to him and lay down our fears instead of being
paralyzed by them, to fear and revere him (David mentions this fifteen
times in Psalm 34) instead of anything or anyone else. An amazing
thing happens when we give God our fears: in return for our fears he
infuses us with faith, hope, and love. As F. B. Meyer said, "God
incarnate is the end of fear; and the heart that realizes that he is in
the midst ... will be quiet in the midst of alarm."
LORD, I give you all my fears today and look to you for help.
Do a deep work in my heart concerning those things that strike fear
in me. I know that your perfect Love will cast out all my fears.
Thank you for your promise to answer me when I call to you, to free me
from fear and shame, and to make me radiant with joy. [Praying
Through The Bible By Fuller]
If you were to make a wish list, what would you include?
Would you write down what you truly have a great need for, or just
what you crave? Life, after all, isn't fair, and few people have
enough money for all that they want.
Psalm 34 deals with needs and the wonderful way that God
provides for them. Do you need something? Follow David's advice--his
observation from his own experience is a truth more durable than any earthly
goods.
There are many other things to praise God for in this group
of psalms as well, such as the protection he gives us from death
(Psalm 33) and unjust enemies (Psalm 35), and for his great goodness
(Psalm 36).
David said that "those who trust in the Lord will lack no
good thing" (Psalm 34:10). Can this be true? How can it be that God's
people lack nothing good?
God knows what we truly need. Even though many Christians
live in poverty and endure hardship, God gives them the spiritual
nourishment they need in order to live for him. This is what David is saying
here--if we have a relationship with God, we have all we need, despite
our circumstances.
If you feel you don't have everything you need, ask yourself
several questions: (1) Is this really a need? (2) Is this really good
for me? (3) Is this the best time for me to have what I want? Even
if you answer yes to all three questions, remember that God's
thoughts are completely different from yours (see Isaiah 55:8). He may
want you to learn that you need him more than you think. [The One
Year Through the Bible Devotional by Dave Veerman re Psalm 34:1-10]
The life in which the fear of the Lord is cherished will not be
a life of sadness and gloom. It is the absence of Christ that
makes the countenance sad, and the life a pilgrimage of sighs. Those
who are filled with self-esteem and self-love do not feel the need
of a living, personal union with Christ. The heart that has not
fallen on the Rock is proud of its wholeness. Men want a dignified
religion. They desire to walk in a path wide enough to take in their own
attributes. Their self-love, their love of popularity and love of praise,
exclude the Saviour from their hearts, and without Him there is gloom
and sadness. But Christ dwelling in the soul is a wellspring of joy.
For all who receive Him, the very keynote of the word of God is
rejoicing. COL162
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I am with you and all around you, encircling you in golden
rays of Light. I always behold you Face to face. Not one of your
thoughts escapes My notice. Because I am infinite, I am able to love you
as if you and I were the only ones in the universe.
Walk with Me in intimate Love-steps, but do not lose sight of
My Majesty. I desire to be your closest Friend, yet I am also your
sovereign Lord. I created your brain with capacity to know Me as Friend
and Lord simultaneously. The human mind is the pinnacle of My
creation, but so few use it for its primary purpose - knowing Me. I
communicate continually through My Spirit, My Word, and My creation. Only
humans are capable of receiving Me and responding to My Presence. You
are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made! (Psa. 34;4-6; 2Pe. 1:16,
17; John 17:3; Psa. 139:14) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Seek My face and you will find all that you have longed for.
The deepest yearnings of your heart are for intimacy with Me. I
know, because I designed you to desire Me. Do not feel guilty about
taking time to be still in My Presence. You are simply responding to
the tugs of divinity within you. I made you in My image, and I hid
heaven in your heart. Your yearning for Me is a form of homesickness:
longing for your true home in heaven.
Do not be afraid to be different from other people. The path
I have called you to travel is exquisitely right for you. The more
closely you follow My leading the more fully I can develop your gifts.
To follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your desire to
please other people. However, your closeness to Me will bless others by
enabling you to shine brightly in this dark world. (Psa. 42:1, 2; 34:5;
Phi. 2:15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Look to Me continually for help, comfort, and companionship.
Because I am always by your side, the briefest glance can connect you
with Me. When you look to Me for help, it flows freely from My
Presence. This recognition of your need for Me, in small mailers as well
as in large ones, keeps you spiritually alive.
When you need comfort, I love to enfold you in My arms. I
enable you not only to feel comforted but also to be a channel through
whom I comfort others. Thus you are doubly blessed, because a living
channel absorbs some of whatever flows through it.
My constant Companionship is the piece de resistance: the
summit of salvation blessings. No matter what losses you experience in
your life, no one can take away this glorious gift. (Psa. 34:4-6;
105:4; 2Co. 1:3, 4) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Bask in the luxury of being fully understood and
unconditionally loved. Dare to see yourself as I see you: radiant in My
righteousness, cleansed by My blood. I view you as the one I created you to be,
the one you will be in actuality when heaven becomes your home. It
is My Life within you that is changing you from glory to glory.
Rejoice in this mysterious miracle! Thank Me continually for the amazing
gift of My Spirit within you.
Try to depend on the help of the Spirit as you go through
this day of life. Pause briefly from time to time so you can consult
with this Holy One inside you. He will not force you to do His
bidding, but He will guide you as you give Him space in your life. Walk
along this wondrous way of collaboration with My Spirit. (Psa. 34:5;
2Co. 5:21; 3:18; Gal. 5:25) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I want you to experience the riches of your salvation: the
Joy of being loved constantly and perfectly. You make a practice of
judging yourself, based on how you look or behave or feel. If you like
what you see in the mirror, you feel a bit more worthy of My Love.
When things are going smoothly and your performance seems adequate,
you find it easier to believe you are My beloved child. When you
feel discouraged, you tend to look inward so you can correct whatever
is wrong.
Instead of trying to "fix" yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the
Lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself,
redirect it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in My
righteousness, radiant in My perfect Love. (Eph. 2:7, 8; Heb. 3:1; Psa. 34:5)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
As we make Christ our daily companion we shall feel that the
powers of an unseen world are all around us; and by looking unto Jesus
we shall become assimilated to His image. By beholding we become
changed. The character is softened, refined, and ennobled for the
heavenly kingdom. {MB 85} [Remnant SB]
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face."
Nothing is more beautiful than the radiant countenance of a real
Christian. [SDA Bible Commentary]
Those who trust to themselves, and think their own efforts
sufficient for them, shall want; but they shall be fed who trust in the
Lord. [Matthew Henry Commentary]
Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith
encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes
serviceable - and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life,
while faith rejoices in its God. Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)
GREAT PRAISE SONG
Oh, My, Glory, Glory, Glory [Live] by The Gaithers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l5_HQFpYjE
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Seeking God Video Clip: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice
