David Determines to Serve The Lord No Matter What
June 26, 2020
Commentary
King Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him. David finally became weary of running from Saul and at last his faith failed him. He made a very bad decision when he decided to go down to Gath and seek asylum with Achish, one of the Philistine lords (I Sam. 21). David had killed Goliath, a champion giant from Gath a few years earlier (I Sam. 17), and so when David showed up seeking asylum, he was immediately imprisoned. Realizing his mistake, David pretended to me insane. He did it so well that Achish the king released him and threw him out of the country. Once safely back in Israel David went to the cave of Adullham in the hill country of Judea southwest of Jerusalem.
This is one of the greatest hymns of invitation that David ever composed, to all the people to join him in praise (vv. 1-3). Looking over his past experiences he is determined that from now on he will praise the Lord no matter what happens to him. He asks the Lord to save him and to help keep his eyes on the Lord (vv. 4-5). He said he was a nobody but, when he prayed, the Lord heard him and saved him (v. 6). He is brought into a full realization that God protects (v.7).
The task of Israel was to attract the nations to their God. Because of their faithfulness to Him, God had promised to bless them abundantly, and when the nations saw this blessing, they would see that the living God was with them (vv. 8-9). God will not allow His faithful servants to starve, nor to lack in any of the necessities of life (v. 10).
Application
Looking back over my life I am so thankful as to how God has protected and provided for me.
Psalms 34:1–10 (NET)
1 I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.
2 I will boast in the Lord; let the oppressed hear and rejoice.
3 Magnify the Lord with me. Let us praise his name together.
4 I sought the Lord’s help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him and be radiant; do not let your faces be ashamed.
6 This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard; he saved him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you chosen people of his, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
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