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PSALM 34 - Freed from Fears 5 Dec 2019

The introduction of Psalm 34 speaks about Abimelech. While in fact the story told in 1 Samuel 21:11-16 speaks about king Achish. Abraham is afraid for Abimelech in Genesis 20. Fear makes us doing strange things.

Once I fear God and seek His will, He will drive out all my fears out of me. And thus in His strength I can do strange things. Love drives out all fear.

Some people feel that fear is the opposite of love. My fear robs me from opportunities to be loved. Fear for something else than God supports lies. The only thing we need to fear is God, because He provides truth. We should fear Him, just as much as we should love Him. Then I do not need to fear anything which drives me mad. In other words, all my respect and reverence should be for God. Fear is a form of showing respect and that is what we owe to God.

Psalm 34

[Of David, when he had feigned insanity before Abimelech,
and Abimelech sent him away]
I will bless Yahweh at all times,
his praise continually on my lips.
2 I will praise Yahweh from my heart;
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh,
let us acclaim his name together.
4 I seek Yahweh and he answers me,
frees me from all my fears.
5 Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright,
you will never hang your head in shame.
6 A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears,
saves him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him,
and rescues them.
8 Taste and see that Yahweh is good.
How blessed are those who take refuge in him.
9 Fear Yahweh, you his holy ones;
those who fear him lack for nothing.
10 Young lions may go needy and hungry,
but those who seek Yahweh lack nothing good.
11 Come, my children, listen to me,
I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who among you delights in life,
longs for time to enjoy prosperity?
13 Guard your tongue from evil,
your lips from any breath of deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good,
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of Yahweh are on the upright,
his ear turned to their cry.
16 But Yahweh's face is set against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 They cry in anguish and Yahweh hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to the broken-hearted,
he helps those whose spirit is crushed.
19 Though hardships without number beset the upright,
Yahweh brings rescue from them all.
20 Yahweh takes care of all their bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 But to the wicked evil brings death,
those who hate the upright will pay the penalty.
22 Yahweh ransoms the lives of those who serve him,
and there will be no penalty for those who take refuge in him.

Excerpt from THE NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1985 by
Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division
of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

Having fear gives some beliefs!