Today’s post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley.
Psalm 34:11 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.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are [open] to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the
earth.
17 [The righteous] cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:11 tells us that to fear the Lord is to live a godly life. We know this because the
psalmist tells us specifically what we must learn that will prove what it means to fear the
Lord! These verses are like a recipe for life, for a long life, for a good life. Details are not
given but there are two points necessary for this godly life – the fear of the Lord. They are
(1) right speech (v13) and (2) right conduct (v14). Until a person has made this his aim
and goal, he has not learned “the fear of the LORD.”
From these verses, we also learn that there is third point necessary to help achieve the fear
of the Lord: (3) seek peace and pursue it (v14). Thus, one’s attitude in life comes into
play and must also be addressed. By controlling our tongues and doing good we learn to
live at peace with ourselves, with others, and with God. Indeed, there is no other way to
peace except through the right heart. “Righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Ps
85:10).
Verse 15 addresses how we are to achieve peace because living a righteous life must
include the right attitude toward any sin residing in our hearts. In verse 15, the favor of
God rests upon the righteous, the brokenhearted, and the crushed in spirit. (See also Psa
51:17; 145:18; Isa 57:15; 61:1; 66:2)
The psalmist rounded out his advice and admonitions with this: we must be willing to
accept that when we trust in God we are not shielded from all troubles.
v19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
God is with us during crisis situations. What a blessing!
Eric Liddell (remember the winning runner in the movie Chariots of Fire?), in his last
years in China as a missionary, was incarcerated and did not know what his fate would
be. While awaiting his end he wrote these words to Chinese Christians:
“Victory over all the circumstances of life comes not by might nor by power but by a
practical confidence in life and by allowing His spirit to dwell in our hearts and control
our actions and emotions. Learn in the days of ease and comfort so that when the days of
hardship come you will be fully prepared and equipped to meet them.”
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have [its]
perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without
reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for
the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
The apostle Paul also wrote to expect trials in the life of a Christian and gave Timothy
this admonition:
2Tim 3:12And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13
But evil men and impostors will proceed [from bad] to worse, deceiving and being
deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become
convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned [them].
Ps 16:11 Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In
Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.
As David said in his psalm, it is His presence that makes it possible to triumph in the
midst of trials.
Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
The New Testament tells us of the reality of deliverance beyond death. May we all
continue learning the fear of the Lord and live in His presence.
Joanne Beckley
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