PSALM 34

PSALM 34

photo courtesy of Franklin Community Church

1) I will bless the Lord at all times:  His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2) My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:  the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3) O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together.

4) I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5) They looked unto Him, and were lightened:  and their faces were not 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 round about them that fear Him, and delivers them.

8) O taste and see that the Lord is good:  blessed is the man that trusts in Him.

9) O fear the Lord, ye His saints:  for there is no want to them that fear Him.

10) The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:  but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

11) Come, ye children, hearken unto me:  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12) What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

13) Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14) Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15) The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

16) The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance 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 nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous:  but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20) He keeps all his bones:  not one of them is broken.

21) Evil shall slay the wicked:  and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22) The Lord redeems the soul of His servants:  and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

King James Version (KJV) (slightly modified)  Public Domain

COMMENTARY

I am reading this as "the Lord", "Strong One", "Elohim".  Is that how you are understanding it?  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-names-of-god-elohim.html'

 

1) King David knows to Whom the praise is due and is determined and resolved to give Him His due

in every circumstance, every situation, whether good or not so good.

2) When "my soul" makes her boast, it begins way down in my gut, works her way up in my heart, and springs forth out of my mouth.  When I boast of my Lord, the lowly are comforted and rejoice that, they too, can find goodness in my Lord.

3) Let us praise Him in corporate worship.  Let us encourage others by giving praise reports.  Let us make His Name great by sharing with others what He has done for us!  That statement alone deserves 10,000 pages of great things He has done for me!  Oh, my precious, Holy, Savior Who suffered unimaginable agony for me!  Oh, how I love you!

4) God hears us even while we are sinning.  Gideon was breaking the law when the Angel of the Lord sat down beside him.  Nothing can stand between us and God once we are truly saved.  Have you accepted the gift of salvation?  Click here for more information:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

He dissolves our fears and obliterates the causes.  I can confidently say that I am not afraid of the current worldwide "pandemic".  Can you?  To live is Christ and to die is gain.

5) When we look to God, our Father for help, He does not turn us away.  Sometimes He jumps off into the situation with us just to hold us near; sometimes He slays our dragons. 

6) To be heard of God is to be delivered no matter how simple the prayer....even if it is just groaning.  He hears and understands.

7) Satan had told God that the only reason Job loved Him was for the reward.....that God had built a hedge around Job.  God actually does that for all His children.  He sets angel armies to surround and keep them.  We also see this with Elijah.

8) "Taste", experience that the Lord is good.  Blessings are multiplied for the one who trusts on Him.

9) I found this verse especially comforting for the times to come.  Fear only God.  We have seen images of men kneeling on the beach just before they are executed.  When we stand strong for the Lord, we will want for nothing.  Surely this may be applied to our children, family, friends, etc.  We may die, but perhaps our loved ones will be saved because of our faith.

10) Our might and our strength are no match for what the Lord is able to do for us.  Young lions may suffer hunger even though they are the "king of the jungle".  The same is true of cunning, crafty, unscrupulous men.  All of their ways cannot match God's provision for His children.

11) Children are more trusting when you teach them.  They have not been so affected by cynicism.  Every adult is commissioned to teach the fear of our Holy Lord and the price of sin.  We need to direct them away from sports, television, play, whatever distraction they may have.  We are to get their full attention and raise them not only fearing, but also trusting our Omnipotent Lord.  Then they can have play time afterward.

12) How many people do you know who are just existing?  How many do you know who are really, truly living a joyful, grateful life?  Come with me and I will teach you to cast EVERY care upon my Holy Father.  No drugs, no high blood pressure, no alcohol consumption, no sleepless nights.

13) You cannot spew evil from your tongue lest some of it splatter back on you.  Depending on the wind, a lot of it may not leave you.  When you live a life of lies, it is comparable to living as a spy in the enemy camp:  you never know when you will be discovered and executed.  Clean and honest living keeps the conscience clear and nights restful.

14) Don't go near evil; avoid it.  When you are caught unaware by it, flee from it and lock yourself away from it.  Do good.  There is always something in your life everyday that you can do that is good.  If you have difficulty finding even one thing, email me.  I will help you find it.  He who does good is sure to avoid evil.......at least eventually.  Doing good feels better and lasts longer.  Then, by all means, seek peace...chase after it like it was your fortune in gold.  Nothing promotes your own happiness than peace.  Strife destroys health, relationships, even fortunes.  Pursue peace like your life depends on it.

15) The eyes of the Lord are on His children like a mama's on her newborn.  He hears our cries like that mama does her baby.  We are so precious to Him that He paid an incredible ransom for us.

16) God does not support those who do evil.  In fact, their very name will be cut off and remembered no more eternally.

17) The Lord delights when the righteous cry out to Him so He can show His incredible love for them.  Nothing can stand between us and our Holy Father.

18) Can you think of a bigger broken heart than when one thinks he has done so wrong that God will never forgive him?  That God has walked away from him forever?  BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE!  God draws near to a contrite heart.  When you truly ask Him to forgive you, He washes you so totally clean that you shine!  There is NOTHING that He will not forgive you for.  Try Him in this.

19) Jesus told us that the world hates us because we love Him, so expect trouble.  The louder you get in proclaiming Jesus, the more trouble you should expect.  But He will deliver you.

20) We are identified with Jesus as when He died, is bones were not broken.  This verse has to be taken spiritually.  We will enter heaven with our souls intact.

21)  I actually saw this verse in a western television show, Gunsmoke.  A man and his daughter had come to town and were harassed and harmed but would not file charges.  He kept telling the Marshall that evil destroys itself.  The perpetrators did actually get killed by their own actions.  You can apply the old saying, "give a man enough rope and he will hang himself."  They always get entangled in their own evil ways.

22) Faith is the mark of the Believer.  We will never be abandoned.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray that God uses us for His glory.  You are encouraged to leave us a comments.  We love to hear from you.  

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THE NAMES OF GOD----JEHOVAH SHALOM

THE NAMES OF GOD

JEHOVAH SHALOM

   It seems that everything I study to share with you on this blog is so timely.  This is no different.  We had suspended our study of the Names of God but I have been able to study a bit more about His wonderful Names.  I was surely blessed by this Name.  I pray you will be, too.

   This Name is only found in one place in the Holy Bible:   Judges 6: 12 - 24.  This is the story about Gideon.  Oh, this story has to be my favorite story in the Old Testament.  There is young Gideon, trying to hide from the Midianites while he tries to separate the chaff from the wheat in a winepress.  He and his family were hungry.  the Midianites had destroyed their farms and taken their livestock.  The Israelites were being conquered by the same people their God had promised to give victory over.  Why was that? 

  The answer is that we often find ourselves in difficult situations when we worship other gods.  "But we go to church on Sunday."  The truth is that not everyone in this country who is able,  attends church regularly.  Of those who do, only 3 - 7 % of them trust God in their finances(in tithes).  We have chosen worldliness to Godliness.  We are no longer set apart from the current culture.  We have forsaken our "First Love" without even thinking about it.  We worship money, prestige, fame, comfort, relationships, ourselves, anything that supersedes God's demands and His dictates.

   While the news media tell us we have a political problem, a racial problem, a drug problem, etc. 

photo courtesy of 2 cool 2 b true

I tell you we have a spiritual problem resulting from our departure from God!  Gideon asked the Angel of God (paraphrased), "If God is for us, where is He?  If He is going to take care of us, why has_____________ happened?  He has surely abandoned us!"  

   God's response was this (again paraphrased):  "I have heard your cries for help.  You have acknowledged your sin.  So, Gideon, I send you to take victory over the Midianites (any of your problems) and I will be with you."  After Gideon realized he really had been talking with the Angel of The Lord, he said,  Alas, O Lord God!  For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face."  But God said, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die."  Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it "The LORD is Peace (Jehovah Shalom).

   There is a commercial on the television about a home warranty where a lady is at her kitchen sink and the faucet pops off and water gushes out all over her kitchen.  The lady says she is having a great day.  She is not concerned because she believes her warranty will cover the repairs.  Let me ask you:  don't you want to rest assured that God will carry you through every trial and tribulation you face and give you victory?  That is peace!  No anxiety, no worry, no sleepless nights, just peace!  When you are obedient to Him, that is just what you receive in return!  He is big enough to slay your dragons, for sure.

   Peace means "wholeness, completeness, or well-being".  It is "harmony and balance".  Being at peace means that even though the world is upside down, you are at rest in your soul.  Here are some verses to help:

   "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage:  I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

   "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul."  (Matthew 11: 28, 29)

   Like Gideon, the way to possess peace is to understand that God is with us.  Know His Word.  Drink it in like cool water to a parched throat.  Make time for our Holy Father.  Stand firmly in faith.  Lean on Him.  Stop worshiping the worldly gods.  Return to your First Love (God).

   If you don't have a relationship with the Creator of Everything, you can change that by clicking here:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

   As always, please pray for God to use our efforts to bring understanding to those who are earnestly seeking Him.  We would love to hear from you, so please leave us a comment.  We know you are with us, but it is special when we read your comments.  Please indicate if you do not want them published.

   Also, if this post is a blessing to you, please share it on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

WHEN I DIE

WHEN I DIE

   As we go from the funeral, what are we to think?   I have been asked by family and friends this one question, "Was he saved?", "Was she saved?"  After life, there is only one comfort for those who are left behind:  the hope that we will see them again. 

   We teach our children their bedtime prayer: 

"Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take.

If I should live for other days,

I pray Thee, Lord, to guide my ways."

When my Grandson started asking questions about this "dying business", I decided it was time to post answers, since others may also have questions about dying, souls, spirits, etc.

   As a Christian, my hope is in The Lord.  Mine is a Living God with Whom I have a relationship.  He is my Heavenly Father per Jesus Christ, and I am a child of God.  When Jesus taught us to pray, He said to pray this way:  "Our Father, Which art in Heaven......."  So, in my heart, I can climb upon His lap, He can put His arms around me, and I can talk with Him about anything.  He is powerful enough to take care of all my concerns.  And He smiles when I just climb up on His lap and tell Him how happy I am that He is mine and when I thank Him for taking care of me.

   Let's get to a few Holy Bible verses which support my beliefs:

1) People are made in the "likeness" of God and have a soul:  And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  Genesis 2:7.

2) Death in the Holy Bible does not mean complete annihilation of a person's being.  It is simply a change of address to the spiritual realm.  As Jesus was dying on the cross, He told a thief on another cross that he would be with Him in Paradise that same day!  So, when New Testament Believers die, they are transported straight to Heaven.  Luke 23: 39 - 43

   In the Old Testament (before Christ), they went to a holding place called Paradise, Hades, or Sheol.  Different names for the same place.  We see it in Luke 16 as Jesus was speaking:

2 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

   So, we see that even though this earthly body dies, our "being" does not.  We will live forever.  The question posed to you today is this:  where will you be for eternity:  heaven or hell?  Without a personal relationship with God, you will spend eternity in hell, tormented, separated from the One Who created you.  You were made for His good pleasure.  

   It is my goal to introduce you to my Heavenly Father that you may live forever in Paradise!  He has prepared a place for you.  All you have to do is accept it.  To learn more, please click here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray for us that God will use our efforts for His good pleasure.  

You are also encouraged to leave us a comment to let us know how we are doing.  As always, we encourage you to share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.