Psalm 34
Verse 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
David’s time in Gath had him in a position of starting to refocus on the Lord and His long term plans for him. This song was written regarding his time of pretending to be insane. He may have written this one after he wrote Psalm 56 which we looked at yesterday, as it looks like he has moved past his oppressing fear.
We should take a moment to note that when it says in the title that it was about the time he was insane in front of Abimelech that Abimelech isn’t always a person’s name but can be the title that goes with a position they hold, kind of like an Egyptian leader being called Pharaoh.
In verse 4 David says that the Lord has answered him, delivering him from all his fears. It was this loss of fear that gave him the clarity to act insane. A man who didn’t seem to be in his right mind would have seemed like less of a threat and more of a nuisance causing his captors to stop feeling threatened by him and therefore not think that they should kill him as an enemy.
This acting as if he was insane would have taken some great self-control and forethought or these servants and their leader wouldn’t have bought it. The fact that he was able to have drool running off the end of his beard took effort. He may have even had to practice to make it look effortless. All the while on the inside he is singing this song of praise.
David may have been thinking that somehow he had brought some of this on himself but by praying about it and seeking the truth from the Lord he was reminded that God is good. God is faithful! God is the ultimate protector. Those thoughts must have brought a smile to his face and joy to his heart. His life was once again on the right track and he knew that the Lord would bring him through this.
This joy he was feeling allowed him to act insane to others so that he could please the Lord with the rest of his life. There will be times when we live for Christ that others will think we are out of our minds but we need to remember that the joy He gives is more rewarding than being thought well of by others.
Making It Personal
Has anyone ever thought you were crazy because of your belief in Jesus? How did you respond? How does joy of the Lord reveal itself in your life?
Making It Personal Kids
Has anyone ever made fun of you because of your love for Jesus? How did you respond? Do you have the joy of Jesus in your heart?
Closing Prayer
Father, we praise You for the joy that You fill us with when we look to You to bring us through this life and its trials. Help us to remember to always turn to You to find the peace and joy we long for. In Jesus’ name, amen.