Praise for deliverance from trouble

Here's the reflection that was shared during a Service of the Word at St Andrew's Wickford this morning:

Psalm 34 is a psalm of praise for deliverance from trouble. It relates to a story about David before he became King of Israel. David has won many battles for King Saul, including defeating Goliath, but, as a result, Saul had become jealous of David and felt threatened by David’s popularity. As a result, David felt forced to flee from Saul.

In 1 Samuel 21.10-15 we read about David fleeing to King Achish of Gath hoping to find safety there. However, he finds that his reputation has preceded him. The servants of Achish recognise him and say, ‘Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands”?’ As a result, David was afraid that King Achish would also feel threatened by his presence in Gath or let Saul know where David was.

So, he changed his behaviour before them; he pretended to be mad when in their presence. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, ‘Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?’ Achish then drives him out of Gath, and he is able to go away safely.

In Psalm 34, the Psalmist attributes David’s safety to God’s care. Looking back, the Psalmist says:

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.”

As a result, the Psalmist encourages us to:

“taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
 O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
for those who fear him have no want.”

If we taste and see the goodness of the Lord know and learn the fear (or awe) of the Lord, then, when we are in trouble as David was, we will also seek the Lord and see him answer us delivering us from all our fears. As with David when he feigned madness, this may involve using our natural creativity to find an unusual way out of the difficulties in which we find ourselves.

So, let us do what the Psalmist commends and learn the fear of the Lord so that we will “bless the Lord at all times”, having his praise continually in our mouths. 

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After the Fire - The Stranger.