Have you ever felt overwhelmed, like the whole world is stacked against you? Have you ever felt like you had nowhere to turn? When David wrote this psalm, his father-in-law, King Saul was chasing him around the country, trying to kill him. He was so desperate to get away from Saul that he fled to the country of the Philistines – the very people he had been fighting against for years. Then, he pretended to be crazy so they wouldn’t kill him. But they also turned him away. You can’t get much lower than that.

So, what did David do when he hit rock bottom? He turned his attention away from his terrible circumstances and made the conscious choice to praise God, to focus on God’s love and mercy.

And to fuel his faith in verse 4, he remembered how God had saved him in the past from similar sorts of dangers. After all, God even allowed him to do something as impossible as killing the giant Goliath. So it’s no wonder that he was confident that God could protect him from Saul and the Philistines. It’s no wonder in verse 9 that he was certain that God would provide for him in every way.

But in the last few verses of this passage, David also tells us how we should repond to God’s grace – by obeying Him. Living a life of devotion to God and service to others isn’t just practical for us, as verse 12 says. Aligning our words and deeds to the will of God is the least we can do to thank God for delivering us from the power of sin and death. Indeed, if Christ saved us by shedding His blood for us, how much more should we devote ourselves to His glory, and to the good of others?

So, no matter what our current situation may be, let’s praise the Lord for His grace. Let’s remember His mercy to us. And let’s seek to live according to His will today.

Psalm 34:1-14 (NAS)

A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed . I Will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear it and rejoice.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were 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 rescues them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him, there is no want.
10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves length of days that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.