Dear Jesus: Open my eyes to the message in Your Word today. Teach my wandering heart to see your love and grace through these verses. Free my mind from today’s to-do list, and send your Holy Spirit to turn my eyes to you! Amen. Psalm 34:1-5
The Message
34 I bless God every chance I get;
my lungs expand with his praise.
2 I live and breathe God;
if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:
3 Join me in spreading the news;
together let’s get the word out.
4 God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.
5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.
Before I could delve into these verses, I had to go read the story about David pretending to be insane to escape King Saul, and the Philistine king Achish (1 Samuel 21:10-15). David was running from King Saul because Saul was afraid of David and jealous of his popularity with the people of Israel. David fled to Gath, which was a Philistine city. They accepted him, thinking he was a defector from King Saul. They didn’t know that David had been anointed to be Israel’s next king! But the Philistines became nervous about David’s presence, so he pretended to be insane. He acted like a madman, so David was able to escape Gath.
My Bible says David wrote these words in Psalms after he escaped the Philistines in Gath. Clearly, he is thankful for the rescue! He praises the Lord and says he will continue to praise Him with his every breath. He says he lives and breathes God. I think I would too, if I was delivered from an enemy. David proclaims that if we will just share our feelings with God, he will meet us “more than halfway”!
This reminds me of an old joke. There was a man who prayed to God every week to win the lottery. After never winning, he asked God, why wasn’t he winning? And God answered, “Do me a favor, buy a ticket”! This man was missing a very important connection to be able to win!
It’s our connection to our Father that is more important than even our requests! David declares God’s faithfulness to us, but more importantly, that we need to “Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.” Yes, he already knows our feelings, he knows everything about us, but he wants us to ask him, to seek him, to talk to him!
Dear Father, please send your Holy Spirit to remind me to seek you always, when I’m anxious, and even when I’m happy and content. I know I can do nothing without you, and I thank you and praise you for your loving grace! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
kristi