Psalm 34:1-6(NLT) I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
The NKJV titles this psalm A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. David was running from Saul, just to find himself in another situation. David went to the Philistine city of Gath but found no refuge there and narrowly escaped.
1 Samuel 21:10(NKJV) Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
How many times do we face problems and situation we decide to run from just to find ourselves run straight into another situation? This was the case with David. He was on the run for his life. He thought that he was fleeing to a place of safety, just to find himself in an even worse situation.
Reading this Psalm, something caught my undivided attention – in his dreadful situation, David says in the NLT: ‘I will praise the Lord at all times, I will constantly speak his praises.’
For a moment ask yourself who is in control of your life? Who is in your driver’s seat? Are you allowing circumstances to control your life, always blaming others for what happens in your life? Blaming your past for who you are, where you are, blaming the present situation, the economic situation, blaming the Corona virus, corruption, and the list can go on and on. Because of the past, because of the current situation there is no future. Some would argue there is no future in our country, we are not going to make it. Well, it seems many people allowed their circumstances to be in the driver’s seat. No, take hold of your circumstances. Do not allow your circumstance to take hold of you.
David never allowed his situation to take hold of him. In these difficult situations he says, Psalm 34:1-8(MSG) I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy: Join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out. God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see – how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
While David was running from his enemies, fighting for his life, hiding in a cave, he did not blame the circumstances, instead, he ran to God.
Psalm 37:4-6(NKJV) Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.