Tomorrow is an important day—for our country and for the world. I personally believe the results of this election will serve as a bellwether of how close we are to the fulfillment of prophecy as foretold for the end times preceding the return of Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth. Yes, I know that America is not mentioned in bible prophecy—and that’s my point. If the radical left are put in the position of power, I believe that America will soon fall as a dominant world player and the stage will more quickly be set for the rise of Antichrist and the judgment of God’s wrath. Although I would love to see the LORD show us mercy and allow more time for those I love who are unsaved to turn to Him in faith and repentance, I know His timing will be perfect and that none will be lost who would choose to accept His gift of salvation.
John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
I do not fear what the future holds because I know Who holds the future. The beautiful words of the psalmist resonate with me. I pray that as you think about these truths, you too will be filled with peace and stay strong in your faith—whatever the results of the election.
Psalm 34:4–10 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears….The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”
Psalm 34:15–19 “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
So many of the psalms contain reference to David seeking the LORD, the LORD hearing his prayer, and the LORD delivering him in answer to his prayer. Why does David express this truth so many times? Because he knows from experience that God will respond. Just as He did for David, the LORD makes provision for men and women of faith who are living in obedience to Him, delivering, equipping and strengthening (all from the Hebrew for delivereth) them according to their need.
“Taste and see” is obviously referencing knowledge based on experience, on relationship and intimate fellowship. If we will submit to the LORD and follow Him in faith and obedience, we will find that He is good. This is not an if statement; it is a statement of fact. Fellowship and obedience to the LORD always result in a person being blessed/happy. What does that mean? Again, let’s look to Webster: “….Experiencing the effect of favorable fortune; having the feeling arising from the consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, as peace, tranquility, comfort; contented; joyous….”
This definition includes the obvious, but it also includes the not so obvious—a feeling of joy and peace because your conscience is clear and you know you are in fellowship with the LORD. We know that every servant of God will experience times of testing that God allows in our life for spiritual growth, but we can still experience peace and joy through those times if we keep our focus on God’s love for us, knowing that the reward will be well worth the experience.
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven….”
2Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight (abundance) of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
In poetic repetition, David emphasizes the truth that the person who fears the LORD will lack nothing that they need, in fact they will lack nothing that is “good” for them. To fear God is to recognize Who He is and to respond with obedience and reverence in light of that knowledge. The “young lions” seems to be a reference to those that are not yet mature and knowledgeable enough to be consistently successful in their endeavors at getting the necessary food for growth and sustenance. Those who seek (pursue, to worship, with diligence) the LORD will be given every good thing needed for spiritual growth and sustenance.
The LORD is obviously also aware of our physical needs and will supply those as well; however, He is more concerned with our spiritual needs. The thing to remember is that how we define our needs compared to how He defines our needs may be entirely different. Jesus taught this truth in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 6:25-33 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
God is omniscient; He sees everything done by everybody—righteous and unrighteous. The LORD watches over His servants with eyes of love and concern for what is good for us. His ears are always listening for our cries for help in time of need or distress.
It is also true that He watches the wicked with a desire to rid the planet of their wickedness. Most of us don’t like to hear this truth presented; we would rather hear about God’s love and forgiveness. God would rather that all men repent and live, but those who choose not to repent will be judged accordingly. Planet earth will one day be made new and will never again experience the effects of sin.
Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live….”
Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Isaiah 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Note that the righteous will have troubles, but they can always look forward to deliverance; and sometimes that deliverance is taking us on home to be with Him. The unrighteous can only look forward to worse trouble—an eternity without God.
The psalmist goes on to expand the thought of God’s deliverance of the righteous. A broken heart or contrite (crushed, bruised) spirit can be caused by someone else or can result from agony of spirit due to your own sinfulness. I think God’s nearness is evident to His servants in both types of experience. The nearness of God speaks to me of love, comfort, and sustenance. Salvation speaks of complete deliverance through healing and forgiveness.
Scripture tells us that it is only because of the love of God that we can be made righteous and look forward to everlasting life in His presence.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus….”
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