Today is a very relaxed day - no set plans really - so I had a chance to wake up and just be in the presence of the Lord for a few hours. One thing that I know, Holy Spirit always shows up when you invite Him. I was dwelling on Psalm 34 for a while and the Lord gave me a lot of revelation and insight. It seems that every time I dig into this psalm the Lord reveals something completely new and more glorious. The four verses that I want to expound on with you are vv.4-7:
"4I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them."
"4I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them."
The hebrew word here for 'sought' is 'darash' with literally translates "to seek or ask; specifically to worship; to inquire." This implies that worship is more than song and music (though that is an important part of worship). So in simply worshiping and asking God, He answers and delivers us from all our fears. Amazing! Sometimes there is so much going on in our lives that it is hard to pinpoint what exactly we need to ask the Lord. So he tells us to worship him and he will deliver us from all of our fears! It's clear that to be strong in the Lord we must lead a lifestyle of worship, and live as a pleasing sacrifice to Him. He desires our hearts and for us to passionately seek him, not just to follow rules for the sake of following. Again, in v.6 it says "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him..." The Lord is so near us that when we can't bring ourselves to words, and can only cry, the Lord hears us and saves us from all of our troubles. What a good Dad! He knows our needs and hears our cries and requests. The original grace that we experience when first saved is the same grace in which we are continually delivered and sanctified! Also, notice that David, King David, the man who impressed God so much that he called his own Son "The Son of David" calls himself "This poor man". We musn't forget that as humans, we are often needy and weak. Ignorance to that is never healthy, but realizing it and crying out to God is truly where we find rest, joy, and strength. This reminds me of what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:
"9But he said to me, (N) "My grace is sufficient for you, for(O) my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that(P) the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10(Q) For the sake of Christ, then,(R) I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For(S) when I am weak, then I am strong.
The next thing to notice in these few short verses are God's promises:
"Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed."
Similarly put, you become what you behold. If you look to Christ, His glory causes you to be radiant. And the glory of Christ is so consuming that "their faces shall never be ashamed." David was truly a man after God's own heart and these revelations reflect that. A New Testament revelation to this is revealed in 2 Corinthians chapter 2 where Paul connects the glowing face of Moses as a precursor of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ:
"12Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.15Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
The next promise seen in v.7 says:
" The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.""The angel of the LORD" often refers to the Lord himself (Ex. 3:2-6 for example). Often the fear of the Lord is misunderstood, but it is actually defined later on in the same psalm within vv.11-14:
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.
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.
This scripture reveals that fearing the Lord is seen in what you speak, and in turning from evil, doing good, and seeking peace. James 1 about sums it up:
"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
I encourage you, know who you are in Christ. True identity is found nowhere else. Jesus passionately intercedes for you and I to come to greater and greater revelations and realizations of who we are in Him.
Jacob and myself will be posting more pictures and videos later today and for the next 3 weeks. I hope that this entry encouraged you. Bless God and God bless!
Kevin Walter
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