TASTE & SEE

Psalm 34 / 1 Samuel 21

“Taste & See”

An Acrostic Psalm • Each of the 22 lines starts with a

successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet: –Aleph (א), Beth (ב), Gimel (ג), Daleth (ד),

He (ה) … with the exception of Waw (ו).

“Taste & See”

Ascription OF DAVID, WHEN HE CHANGED HIS BEHAVIOR BEFORE ABIMELECH, SO THAT HE DROVE HIM OUT, AND HE WENT AWAY.

● Links this Psalm to 1 Samuel 21, but the story in 1 Samuel seems to be about Ahimelech and Achish.

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Ahimelech, Abimelech, or Achish? • Two men are in view –Ahimelech—Priest of Israel in Nob

–Abimelech—Title for Philistine King. The name of the king in Gath was Achish.

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Psalm 34:1-4 “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 ... ”

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Psalm 34:4-8 “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 …”

“Taste & See”

Psalm 34:8-12 “refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he …”

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Psalm 34:12-16 “may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the…”

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Psalm 34:16-21 “earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction …”

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Psalm 34:21-22 “will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” (ESV)

LEARN TO FOCUS ON GOD

“I will bless the LORD at all times” (34:1)

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Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (ESV)

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Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (ESV)

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Psalm 34:2-3 “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.” (ESV)

GIVE YOUR FEARS TO GOD

“I sought the LORD, and he … delivered me from all my fears” (34:4)

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Terms Used • All my fears (4)

• Troubles (6)

• Broken hearted (18)

• Crushed (18)

• Affliction (19)

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Psalm 34:6 “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” (ESV)

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Look at what God can do. He … • Removes shame (5)

• Saves us from our trouble (6)

• Is a place of refuge (8, 22)

• Meets our needs if we fear him (9, 10)

• Provides good (10, 12)

• Hears our cries (15, 17)

• Is near to the brokenhearted (18)

• Saves the crushed in spirit (18)

• Redeems the life of his servants (22)

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Daniel 3:17-18 “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (ESV)

FIND COMFORT IN GOD

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes

refuge in him!” (34:8)

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Observation #1 • David’s reliance on God did not start

with the trouble in the wilderness. David’s reliance on God started many years earlier as a youth.

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Psalm 34:18-19 “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (ESV)

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Observation #2 • The Bible does not promise that

believers will never suffer. It actually promises the opposite.

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Observation #3 • A different type of “rescue” might be

in view here.

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Psalm 34:20 “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (ESV)

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John 19:36-37 “For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They will look on him whom they have pierced.’” (ESV)

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Application • An Observation: David is able to

respond faithfully in troubled times because of his past history with God.

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Application • A Question: Where do you currently

go for comfort?

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Application • A Commitment: I will praise and obey

God in the midst of my struggles.

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Application • An Acknowledgement:

–Will God deliver me from my trials in this life? Maybe.

–Will God deliver me from my trials in the next life? Certainly.

–Will God sustain me in my trial? Absolutely.

“Part of the discipleship process is arriving home”—Mark Post

TASTE & SEE

“The LORD is good!”