Psalm 34:15-17

Psalm 34:15-17

Thank you, Lord, for your goodness which under girds us in difficulties, permeates our problems and transforms our troubles into the next step up as we praise you for who you are and what you are doing in them, even though we cannot see any good at the moment, for you are faithful, as Psalm 34 says.

Psa 34:15  “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;”

[Praise be to you, Lord, for your rich faithfulness, for your persistent love, for your deep commitment to your children. Praise you that you always watch over them, always hear every prayer, every word, every thought. Praise you that you are totally aware of what is going on in our lives. Your love is strong and deep and powerful, the rich spiritual earth out of which we grow. Praise be to you that we can trust you to always work out what is best.]

Psa 34:16  “the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”

[What a stark contrast, from the offer of total redemption to the position of total rejection. In your great Love you hate evil and will deal with those who choose to live in it. You will righteously end their lives and wipe out even the memory of them. Praise you for your rejection of evil so that it may not continue in heaven and in eternity.]

Psa 34:17  “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

[Praise be to you, the Sovereign, Holy and Powerful God who hears every prayer of every one of your children and answers them. Praise you that you act to deliver us from all our troubles. The timing may be very different from what we’d like, but you will act at the time you know to be right.

In sending Jesus to suffer, die and rise again you have delivered us in the most fundamental of ways. You have delivered us from the demonic kingdom of darkness, from the dominance of sin, from the danger of eternal death, from the devil’s tricks and attacks. We stand now as your beloved children, free of shame, of condemnation, of hopelessness, of meaninglessness. We stand in your presence, in your light, in your love, in the new life you have given us. We stand equipped for the battle, able to be more than conquerors in whatever comes to us, as we stand firm in the armor you have provided.

You have saved us from all the great troubles we were born into as children of Adam, under his curse. And you will save us out of the minor troubles that plague us in this warped world of woe, using each one to mature and mold us into the image of Christ—as we respond with praise and trust in all

In addition, you have supplied us with wisdom, patience, love and grace. You have made your Holy Spirit dwell within us. You have given us your wonderful Word. We live in the certainty that you will triumph and that you are carrying us with you to the end of history, giving us each a significant role to play in the plan.]

Yes, you, Lord God, the faithful One, are the great deliverer, saving us from all our troubles. To you be honor and glory today as we live in the light of your Grace, rejoice in the goodness of your Love and rest in the certainty of your Promises. Keep our eyes on the Truth, Lord, instead of on our troubles; help us to keep on the armor, to keep up the shield of faith, to be people of truth and trust because we know you, the God of love and goodness and righteousness and grace. May you be exalted in all that I do today.