WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday May 27, 2018
Over
162,000 readers worldwide
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REJOICING
IN RESTORATION
(Praising,
praying, and depending on the LORD)
(Psalm
34 and Hebrews 2:17-18)
Psalm
34 is a righteous man’s praise of GOD for HIS delivering him from life’s
troubles and fears that can be magnified in our minds by the wiles of satan and
his demons. Here the psalmist, King David, praises GOD for HIS perpetual goodness
that HE lavishes upon him each day undeservingly, and in particular, for HIS
delivering him from the hands of Abimelech.
Taking on the role of a teacher, David
urges all readers and hearers of the Word of GOD to “taste and see that the
LORD is good”. He also teaches us that when we choose to do that which is good,
GOD will supervise, so to speak, the results of those wise choices, and turn
them into blessings that we will be able to enjoy and share with others.
This “teaching psalm” shares with us,
lessons that David himself learned when he became discouraged and fled to
Philistia, and when he was recognized, he pretended to be insane, and was
subsequently driven out of this enemy territory back into Israel. In that
instance, GOD delivered David, despite his lapse in judgment and faith, showing
him how HE was watching over him, even when he put himself into unnecessary
peril, as we humans often seem to do.
David could have just as easily called upon
GOD for help while he was still in his homeland of Israel, instead of waiting
until he dug a hole for himself in the land of his enemies. However, like most
of us, we foolishly wait and see if we can solve our own problems before we
call on GOD for HIS wise assistance.
In verse 8 the phrase “taste and see” is an
important figure of speech in biblical vernacular. It is a phrase that suggests
that we take full participation in, or experience the full enjoyment of, that
which is offered to us by the LORD. It is a call to rely fully and completely
on GOD, experiencing the total benefits of a fulltime, personal relationship
with HIM.
David convincingly shares with us his
confidence that the Angel of the LORD will shield those who fear GOD, with
divine protection from on high. Those who trust in GOD, the true worshipers,
will experience genuine joy, and will lack nothing, or, never have to do
without “any good thing” in life.
The person who takes total refuge in the
LORD is one who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Their sins are
covered by the blood of CHRIST, and they trust in the LORD and have HIS divine
power available to them when they need help. They are disciplined by HIM, and,
they strive to keep all of HIS statutes, because they have a reverent fear of
HIM as being the ONE WHO has control over the throne of their life.
For those who choose to live righteously in
the LORD, several assurances are highlighted by David in verses 15-21. First, “the
LORD looks favorably upon the righteous”, in verse 15 is a wonderful sign of
protection. However, in verse 16 David issues this warning that, “the LORD will
turn HIS face against those who do evil”.
Secondly, David assures us that “the LORD
hears the prayers of those who are righteous, humble, and not arrogant or
pride-filled”. And thirdly, “even though the righteous may face many troubles,
the LORD will rescue them from every one of them”. HE will protect them from
harm, and in fact, “not even one of their bones will be broken”.
In summation to this “acrostic” psalm,
where all of the verses begin with a different Hebrew alphabet (one letter is
omitted however between verses 5 and 6 causing the acrostic to end at verse 21).
Verse 22 is the exception, leaving it to stand alone and call attention to
itself with this divine promise; …”the
LORD will redeem those who serve HIM. Everyone who trusts in HIM will be freely
pardoned” (NLT).
The word, “redeem”, in verse 22 points to
JESUS CHRIST as our LORD and SAVIOR. As a “human being” born to die, JESUS
broke the power of sin and death that satan had held over mankind since the
days of Adam and Eve. HE came to redeem us as a man, not as an angel, so that
HE could fully represent us before GOD the FATHER as our merciful and faithful
HIGH PRIEST, coming from a “human vantage point”. Only then could HE offer
HIMSELF up as the supreme sacrifice that would satisfy GOD’s price for the sins
of the world, once, and for all time (Hebrew 2:17-18).
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
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