17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he saves those crushed in spirit.
Reflections: God won’t leave you. He hears the cries of his people and comes to their aid. It’s not always the kind of help we want nor expect – which is perhaps a reason that we so often don’t notice God in our darkest moments – but he always comforts, accompanies and saves us.
Question:Â What do you think it feels like to have God with you?
Prayers:Â Thank you, God, that you save us. Thank you for hearing our cries. Please deliver us from evil. Amen.
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Psalm 34
The Lord Delivers the Righteous
Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him out, and he departed.
1I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2I will boast in the Lord;
the humble will hear and be glad.
3Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and rescued me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him are radiant with joy;
their faces will never be ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him from all his troubles.
7The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and rescues them.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good.
How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
9You who are his holy ones, fear the Lord,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10Young lions lack food and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord
will not lack any good thing.
11Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12Who is someone who desires life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
13Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.
14Turn away from evil and do what is good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry for help.
16The face of the Lord is set
against those who do what is evil,
to remove all memory of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he saves those crushed in spirit.
19One who is righteous has many adversities,
but the Lord rescues him from them all.
20He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22The Lord redeems the life of his servants,
and all who take refuge in him will not be punished.