PSALM 34:1-3 ESV
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually
be in my mouth.
My soul makes it boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

As Thanksgiving approaches, and as we as God’s children remember all that He is and all that He does; giving praise to Him should come as naturally as the breath He gives us. So, in our weekly reminder that life really is ALL ABOUT JESUS ALL THE TIME, let’s explore Psalm 34 and what this Scripture declares about praising God, boasting in the LORD, experiencing gladness, magnifying Him, and exalting Him together.
1. Since the psalmist says praise shall be in his mouth, or we might say, on our tongue; surely it should be so with us. We should feel the Spirit’s reminder throughout our day to find the joy of praising our LORD.
2. You know how we boast about everything; our children, our teams, our gardens, our cars, our thrifty purchases, etc.; then, surely we should not find it so difficult to boast about our LORD.
3. Of course, we know (but we too often forget) how glad we feel when we are truly and wholeheartedly praising our LORD.
4. When we are together, how joyfully we magnify the LORD. Our oneness in lifting our praise to Him is both an encouragement and  a blessing to us.
5. What a privilege to come together in worship and exalt or lift up His name. What a blessing to rejoice as One faith family in our LORD.

HERE IS AN IMPORTANT NOTE: ANYTIME YOU SEE LORD WRITTEN IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, YOU ARE SEEING THE PERSONAL NAME OF ALMIGHTY GOD. JEWISH SCRIBES WROTE THIS NAME IN A PARTICULAR WAY BECAUSE THEY FELT IT WAS DISHONORING HIS GLORY TO ACTUALLY SPEAK HIS NAME. SO, WHEN WE SEE IT, WE SHOULD  KNOW IT IS THE UNIQUE TO OUR GOD, AND HIM ALONE. THERE IS NO OTHER BEING WHO CAN BEAR THIS NAME. ONLY THE LORD. (Praise His Name!)

PSALM 134:4-7 ESV
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Here is a testimony every believer can declare: When I seek the LORD, he answers me. Praise be to His Name. Give attention to David’s own declaration of praise:
1. God delivers me from my fears. He proves Himself more powerful than any fearful challenge this world or even the Enemy may bring against me.
2. We all know those who truly trust in them for their faces and, indeed, their whole lives shine with a radiance which reflects His glory.
3. And so, those who have given themselves into His Care will never find cause to be ashamed of Him. In fact, he takes the most difficult of circumstances and turns them into His glory, and in doing so, brings us joy.
4. When the poor man, (and all of us are poor in one way or another), turns to Him and God redeems our troubles; He turns our defeat into His victory.
5. The Angel of the LORD, His loving Presence, surrounds His people, those who give Him worship, who recognize His greatness and His overwhelming power; with His victorious deliverance.

PSALM 34:8-10 ESV
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD shall lack no good thing.

David’s testimony continues confidently: Truly the LORD is good! David knows this, for he has experienced many crises in life. God has always been faithful to provide the strength to overcome. So He gives these challenges:
1. You can look to the LORD and his works day and night and forever; He will meet your needs and He will provide for you the strength and the abilities you need to overcome.
2. People who find their hiding place, their safe place; they find themselves blessed in HIm.
3. Fear, respect, worship, obey the LORD. That is what saints do, for they have recognized His greatness and their weakness.
4. In nature even the strong and mighty young lions may become hungry; but those who faithfully seek the LORD will never lack any good gift from Him in the end.

PSALM 34:12-14
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
See peace and pursue it.

FEAR OF THE LORD demands that we recognize God for who is. FEAR OF THE LORD keeps us seeking Him and His Way over the ways of this world. FEAR OF THE LORD makes us serious as we seek to go where He leads, do as He says, and to speak as He inspires.
1. We do need to be empowered and taught by the Holy Spirit to FEAR THE LORD.
2. All people desire life; we love the idea of living many days; and we seek to experience and do good in our lives.
3. We must, even so, keep our tongues from committing evil; and we must keep our tongues form declaring lies.
4. We allow God to lead us as we turn away from evil so that we do good.
5. We seek peace with God and with all people; we actually and purposefully pursue peace.

PSALM 34:15-18
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help,
the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

Righteousness reveals a heart which fears and upholds, and so is blessed by the LORD. He sees and hears them, and so meets their needs. In love the LORD opposes those who do evil, and just so He attempts to turn them from the disaster of evil. So, the LORD both hears the righteous and answers their call for help. Even so, the LORD remains near those whose hearts are broken.
1. You can count on it: God’s eyes are on you when you obey Him. His ears do hear your crying out to Him.
2. You can count on it: Oppose the LORD and He will oppose you; for in Love He would turn you from self-destruction.
3. You can count on it: If you find yourself in trouble as you follow HIm, He will surely deliver you.
4. You can count on it: When the world breaks your heart, God is near, and when the world crushes your spirit, He saves you.

PSALM 34:19-22
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

God knows just how difficult life on this earth can be. After all, Jesus . . . “in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrew’s 4:15, ESV) So He truly understands our trials and our temptations, and He has such strength to share with us, so that we can also stand righteous with Him.
1. The psalmist declares: The righteous face many afflictions, but the LORD stands ready to deliver them out of them all.
2. The LORD is so particular in His care for us, He keeps watch over each of our bones, even the parts of our lives which are hidden from view.
3. He does not force Himself on the wicked, so they will fall prey to the consequences of their sin.
4. The LORD redeems the life of those who serve Him. Those who find their security in Him will be secure from condemnation.

So, there is no wonder that David expresses praise and thanksgiving to God. And as we meditate on not only the more visible blessings we enjoy everyday, but on the spiritual blessings we may not notice; our hearts have every reason to praise and thank our good God for all He is and all He does as He truly acts redemptively every moment of every day we live on this earth. We are even so assured by His Loving Presence now, that our eternity in Heaven will fill us with even more wonder as we gather around His Throne to worship Him forever.

THANKSGIVING

Thank our GOD forever.
His NAME deserves our praise.
Always give HIM glory.
Never refuse HIS gifts.
Keep HIM on the throne.
Surrender your all to HIM.
Glorify HIS blessedness.
Intensify your obedience to HIM.
Verify  HIS goodness.
Invite HIS loving presence.
Name HIM as your HEAVENLY FATHER.
Give to GOD all glory, honor, and praise.