Reflection:
David begins this psalm with joy, offering personal, heartfelt praise to his great God.
It’s easy to do this during ‘mountain top’ experiences, when life is gloriously wonderful. But David’s recent experience involved fearing for his life and hiding in a cave. David knew that that cave offered no ultimate protection, so he sought refuge in the Lord and found deliverance and a true safe haven.
In response to being rescued, the first thing he does is to look up and give thanks and praise. He could have drawn the reader into the depths of his recent troubles. There is a time for that, as we see in so many of the psalms, where the writer laments the pain and anguish of life, the experiences that run so counter to God’s good intentions for his people and his world. But as one recently rescued from trouble, his attention is focused upon the marvellous God who has delivered him. And praise flows forth.
Psychological research is catching up with what the wise knew about life centuries ago — that even in the midst of difficult circumstances there is benefit in noticing and responding to what is good.
John Bunyan, an English puritan preacher and writer once said, ‘I have often seen that the afflicted are always the best sort of Christians’. Why? Because troubles can drive us to God, to depend upon him and find refuge in him. And to learn that even in the darkest of times, it’s still possible to look up and notice the good and beautiful blessings that flow from the Lord’s hand. When you taste the goodness of the Lord, you want to thank and praise him.
That’s what David did. He invites his readers to join him:
‘Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together’ (Psalm 34:3).
Prayer:
I will exalt you, my God and King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Amen.
Song:
“Holy Forever” by The Worship Initiative