Psalm 34 Continued…
Psalm 34:17-22 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Not to get too overly personal here, but I cannot help but point out that verse 18 is probably my most treasured verse from all of the Old Testament. Know that God is close to the brokenheated and that he saves those crushed in spirit is such an incredible comfort. And realizing that this profoundly comforting truth comes out of such a “crazy” self-induced problem in David’s life is very interesting.
Many of the problems we experience are, like David’s, problems because we felt we had to take matters into our own hands because God wasn’t moving fast enough for our liking. So, we scheme, we manipulate, we lean on our own attempts and understanding. And usually, it looks as undignified as David had to end up with drool running down his beard.
From his hard knox experiences, David lets us all in on something he discovered about the God he loved so very much. When you are down and out, you are not alone…no mater how you may feel. God is close. He is. David said so…but he said so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit…so, God said so. And that is indeed a comforting thought.
I do not have to trust how I feel. I can, trust the reliable, authentic and inspired and infallible Word of God to testify that when my heart is broken…God is near. When my spirit is crushed by the circumstances I am in or facing…God will save me. How wonderful is that?!
Verse 20 is a subtle prophetic utterance of our Lord Jesus, who was indeed crushed in spirit. Whose heart was broken by the sins he had not committed but were placed on him in our place. Not one of Jesus’ bones were broken on the cross. Even as the full weight of all of the immoral evils of humanity were placed on him.
Who would think that an episode that caused David to thank the Lord for deliverance when he acted like a madman, would also be an occasion where God decided to pull forth a foreshadow of the hardships our precious Jesus would face hundreds of years later?
PRAY
Father thank you that you never leave me or abandon me!