Focus Scripture
1I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:1-3
Day One
When we come to scriptures that use phrases like “at all times” and “continually,” it can be more than a little intimidating. Placing things in some context can relieve the burden of guilt that such scriptures can place on us. Worship, prayer, praise…they should all be the essence of the believers lifestyle. In other words, just as the choice to resist temptation and not sin should be the habit of the Christian, worship, prayer and praise should be the natural outflow of our lives.
Think about it
In this psalm, David was celebrating deliverance from an enemy (in this case Abimelech Achish, king of Philistia – See 1 Samuel 21:14). What’s interesting, however, is at the time he was brought before the king, out of fear and self-preservation, David acted like he was insane by rolling in the dirt and drooling. He deceived the Philistine leader into believing he was not a threat to him, in spite of the recognition of his exploits as a mighty warrior. In other words, he schemed his was out of a tight spot. Many commentators believe Psalm 34 is David reflecting back on that event and repenting of his lack of trust in the Lord for deliverance and depending instead on his own wisdom.
“I will bless the Lord at all times.”
Even in the face of threat or persecution, David commits to worship and express humble adoration to God. No doubt, all of us find times when it is difficult to find the positive. In times of grief and suffering, the conscious decision to praise and adore God will cause us to stop gazing in despair at our circumstance and lift our eyes to Almighty God who is worthy of our adoration and worship.
“His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
As human beings, we are more prone to complain than to praise. We are more likely to curse than to bless others. What must be evident in the life of the believer, however, is the Spirit of Christ alive and well within us. Loving God and loving neighbor means a mouth filled with blessing and praise. Praise should be our habit, not the exception in our daily life.
Application
- Worship is not a Sunday morning exercise, but a daily offering of ourselves to God for His glory. David emphasizes what comes out of our mouth, because our words reflect the state of our heart. Make it a daily habit to exercise your spirit’s desire to praise God. Sing together. Practice the art of praise and thanksgiving by speaking about the provision of God, even in the hard times.
Day Two
There are few things more irritating to me that to listen to someone boast about themselves, their possessions, their talents, etc. More often that not, the need to boast is rooted in insecurity and low self-worth. David turns that on its head.
“My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.”
The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father above. Our life is a gift. Our salvation is a gift of God’s grace. Nothing we hold is our own, but God’s. Our security is in God alone. David reflects that attitude. From his innermost being, he makes his boast in the Lord, alone. He stands as an example to us. As a child of God we most remember:
- We are not or own.
- We are nothing without God.
- Our security is not in what we possess (material wealth) but in God. He secures our eternity.
How do we respond to these things? Well, David helps us there, too.
“let the humble hear and be glad.”
Pride tells us to be self-reliant, self-serving and insistent on control of our own destiny. Humility before God, on the other hand, tells us to surrender ourselves, give of ourselves to others and submit to God’s control. The humble heart is glad for this news. Prideful resistance to God is a path to disappointment and destruction. Humble submission is the “narrow way” that leads to life. That is the model we are given in Jesus. Even He said, “I have come to do the will of the Father.” (John 6:38).
Application
“3 O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.”
In the midst of the daily grind, humility before God will make an enormous difference in our outlook. We can fall into the “I don’t deserve this” trap in tough times. We can also fall in the “I’m finally getting what I deserve” trap in good times. Commit yourself, today, to remembering that we are created to live for the glory of God. That is true no matter the situation of circumstance.
Let’s magnify the Lord and exalt His name, together, for all to see.