Psalm
34:1–8—The psalm appointed for next
week is one taken from a bizarre incident in the life of David, when he
pretended to be insane before Achish, a Palestinian king in the line of
Abimelech. The entire story is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. David exhorts us
to extol the Lord at all times, for as the Lord delivered David in answer to
his prayer, so He also has delivered us from sin, death, and the devil.
David wasn’t long in Gath before the servants of
Achish said, “Isn’t this David, of whom
the Israelis sing, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’”
(See 1 Sam. 21:11.) So, fearing that he had jumped from the frying pan into the
fire, David panicked. He decided to act like an insane man, scribbling on the
city gate and drooling into his beard. Achish fell for the ruse. He
sarcastically asked his men (1 Sam. 21:15), “Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one into my presence?”
And so by his deception, David was enabled to escape. But his acting like a
madman had dishonored God in front of these pagans.
But then he wrote this psalm, praising God for his
deliverance and denouncing deception (Ps. 34:13). It seems that in reflecting
back later on this close escape from death, David realized that in spite of his
failure, God had been gracious in rescuing him anyway. True, David had been in
a very tight spot, but that did not justify his deception. He actually
continued this pattern of deception with Achish, convincing him that he was
raiding Israeli villages, when he actually was slaughtering off the inhabitants
of the land (1 Sam. 27:8-12). This almost resulted in David’s being forced to
go into battle with the Philistines against his own countrymen. It also
resulted in the capture of David’s and his men’s wives and property, so that
his own men were talking of stoning him (1 Sam. 30:6).
Sometime after David recovered from all of these
difficult trials caused by his own panic and deception, he penned Psalm 34. He
realizes now that deception and evil are not the way to the good life. Rather,
seeking God for deliverance, fearing Him, and walking in His ways are the way
to enjoy God and His blessings.[2] -3 August
2021—
A Collect For
steadfast faith – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because
of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that,
believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your
Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally
come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.[3]
[1] The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission for
personal and congregational use copyright © WELS
[3] Collect for a steadfast faith in Christ, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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