Talk about a manic Monday and a
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. This was the worst place to which
David could have gone. It was the very city of Goliath, whom he had slain, and
whose sword he now wore.
David, the one chosen by God to
be king, in a moment of weakness when pursued by King Saul and his armies, sought
refuge with the Philistines, the enemy of Israel.
David realized his mistake and
the truth of what he declares in verse 8: Blessed is the man who takes
refuge in the Lord! When we
are tempted to look elsewhere than to the Lord
for rescue, let us also remember this psalm of David, and then bless the Lord at all times.
David thought praising God was to
magnify Him – that is, to make Him larger in one’s perception. Magnification
does not actually make an object bigger, and we can’t make God bigger. But to
magnify something or someone is to perceive it as bigger, and we do that
regarding the LORD our God.
Remember, you have been saved by grace
through faith in Christ. In faith you
are able to testify with David, that you also sought the Lord for the
forgiveness of sin, and He graciously delivered you out of the hands of the
enemy - triumphing over sin and death, and redeeming your life from the pit.
What a gracious God we have. For
while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, and together with David and a
cloud of witnesses, we are able to confirm “I also sought the LORD, and He answered me. And He delivered me from
all my fears. - Yes, we can rejoice and say with all the saints: I will bless the LORD at all times. His
praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the
LORD. The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let
us exalt His name together. I will bless the LORD at all times.. His praise
shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD. The
humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt
His name together!”
Collect for Psalm 34 - Lord,
graciously hear us, for we seek you alone. Calm our bodies and minds with the
peace which passes understanding, and make us radiant with you; through your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
For All the Saints, A Prayer Book
For and By the Church Vol. II copyright © 1995 American Lutheran Publicity
Bureau, Delhi, NY
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