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Divine Deliverance (Psalm 34:1-22)

Part of the The Book of Psalms series, preached at a Sunday Morning service

David Torres
David Torres
March 23, 2014

Sermon preached on Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Garden Valley Chapel during our morning worship service based on Psalm 34.

Take your Bible if you will and open it to the book of Psalms, Psalm chapter 34.

What is it that you fear the most? What will fear drive a man to do?

If there was an emotion that is misunderstood or misrepresented, it is fear.

It all depends on what it is that you fear and in the end you must test whether that fear has driven you to that which is good, noble, and holy. Does it drive you to that which is good, noble, and holy?

For instance unbelievers live with an innate fear to lose their worldly possessions, and to lose life itself.

But is fear to be the emotion stirred up in a believer?

In OT we read that what God requires of us is to “fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God will all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’s commandments and His statues” (cf. Deut 10:12).

Solomon cuts it short and says in Ecclesiastes 12:13 –

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

All throughout the Scriptures you have examples of men who feared God.
Abraham feared God and so did not withhold his only son (cf. Gen 22:12).
Joseph feared God and declared it to his brothers (cf. Gen 42:18).
Job feared God and so turned away from evil (cf. Job 1:8).
Cornelius feared God and prayed to God continually (cf. Acts 10:2).
These were men who feared God and such fear was the attitude they carried all the days of their life.

Because to fear God is revere Him and be awed by all that He is and this always translates to life. That is why this kind of emotion / attitude must be predominant in us as His people.

A.W. Tozer has said -

“The fear of God is … astonished reverence. I believe that the reverential fear of God mixed with love and fascination and astonishment and admiration and devotion is the most enjoyable state and the most satisfying emotion the human soul can know.”

But what happens when you fear for your life? What happens when you get your eyes off of God and unto life’s troubles or circumstances?

One word: DISASTER.

Peter said it best in 1 Peter 1:17 –

17 …conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

That reverence, that awe, that respect for God ought to flow from your life here on earth. Again not in fear of man or of life’s circumstances, but on God. Jesus said to his disciples in Matt 10:28 –

28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Your eternal destiny is heaven. You have placed your faith in the One who can determine and bring to pass the destiny of souls and bodies.

Illustration: It is said of Lord Lawrence on his memorial in Westminster Abbey, “he feared man so little because he feared God so much.”

I suppose that is a great challenge for us all. It is something that believers of all ages have struggled: to ultimate fear God more than man.

Not to lapse into despair but to develop an unwavering confidence in God.

David came out of that struggle and so penned these words in a psalm.

His message is simply: God can be trusted. He does come through. We can call on Him. He will help His children. Above all, fear Him.

Read Psalm 34.

About David Torres: David Torres was born in San Salvador and moved to the States at the age of 6. He came to Christ at age 15. He is a graduate of The Master’s University (BA ’01) and The Master’s Seminary (MDiv ’06; ThM ‘19). He served as a pastor-teacher in Garden Valley, CA for 8 years. In 2014, he returned to Grace to You as the GAV Radio Producer serving the Spanish speaking world through the teaching ministry of John MacArthur. He serves in the Joint Heirs Fellowship Group at Grace Community Church and on the council for Grace Advance. He also serves as a Section Instructor at TMS. He was married to Angie in 2000, and they have seven children: Isaiah, Emilia, Micah, Eva, Isabella, Elizabeth, and Jeremiah.