Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Psalms 3 (5)
Pray Psalm 34.3, 18, 19.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together…
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Sing Psalm 34.3, 18, 19.
(Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
When for help we cry to Jesus, He will save, for He is near.
He delivers us from trouble, for He holds us ever dear.
Refrain v. 3
Magnify the Name of Jesus! Let us lift His Name in praise!
Read Psalm 34.1-22; meditate on verses 18-22.
Preparation
1. What did David seek from the LORD?
2. How must they live who seek the LORD like this?
Meditation
David was filled with rejoicing as he wrote this psalm, because the LORD had just delivered him from perhaps the scariest time of his life. To escape Saul, David had fled to the Philistines. Of all places to flee! Had he not only recently killed their great champion and routed their armies? Was he mad?
That’s what he hoped the Philistines would believe. One more madman was not what Abimelech (Achish) needed, so he drove David away, but not until after the threat from Saul had subsided (1 Sam. 21.10-15).
David’s psalm overflows with gratitude and praise to the prayer-hearing God. He urges others to praise and thank Him as well (vv. 3, 8-10), and he revels in the promises of God’s continued blessings and care. Verses 19-22, while they speak to all who are righteous (vv. 12-18) are prophetic of the suffering of Jesus—the “Righteous One”, v. 19. As Augustine reminds us, Jesus’ bones were not broken during His crucifixion, thus pointing to this psalm to demonstrate His righteousness. David ends by holding out the promise of redemption and calling us to trust in the LORD.
The redemption and deliverance we have through Jesus is a reason for continuous celebration, for praise and thanks and blessing to God the Father, Who chose us for Himself, God the Spirit, Who effects our salvation, and God the Righteous One and Son of the Father, Who accomplished our redemption by His perfect life, substitutionary suffering, and powerful resurrection from the dead.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear…” (Jn. 19.32-34).
Jesus the very thought of Thee…and of Your love, Who died for me.
(Bernard of Clairvaux, 1150/Wesley,1738)
“For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’
And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced’” (Jn. 19.36, 37).
The Righteous One, the Perfect One, The LORD of lords, and KING of kings, suffered the most heinous death—not for a crime He had committed—but for all the crimes we had committed. Thorns, nails, a spear, humiliation, and separation from God the Father. He descended into hell.
And yet, for all we did to Him, we receive blessing upon blessing.
Freedom, forgiveness, salvation, sanctification, mercy, grace, and love. And the Holy Spirit.
“The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned” (Ps. 34.22).
“…For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood…” (Rev. 5.9).
How thankful, how grateful, how appreciative we are for His suffering, death, and resurrection!
“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD…” (Ps. 34.1, 2).
“Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?” (Ps. 34.12)
Who is the one who would show Jesus the love He deserves?
Here are some initial suggestions (a starter-kit, as it were):
“Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34.13, 14).
And how will we be able to do that?
How can we know what is good and what is evil?
“By taking heed according to Your Word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your Word I have hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119.9-11).
“LORD, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments.
My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
for all my ways are before You” (Ps. 119.166-168).
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.
He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3 Jn. 11).
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Ps. 34.8)
Reflection
1. How did Jesus come to be known as the Righteous One? What does that mean for us?
2. Why is it important, when we’re sharing the Gospel, to emphasize the righteousness of Jesus?
3. Jesus, the Righteous One, suffered for His claim to be God and the Messiah. Should we expect to suffer by identifying with Him? Explain.
The prophecy was fulfilled in our Lord, because as he hung on the cross he expired before the soldiers arrived; they found his body already lifeless, so they had no wish to break his legs; thus the Scripture was fulfilled. But the promise was made to all Christians. Augustine (354-430), Expositions on the Psalms 34.24
Pray Psalm 34.1-9.
Spend an extended season of prayer praising and exalting the Lord Jesus Christ. Look into His face, to see the glory there (2 Cor. 4.6). Take your seat beside Him (Eph. 2.6) and revel in His Presence. Thank and praise Him for saving you from sin and from all your troubles. Go forth into your day, filled with His Spirit.
Sing Psalm 34.1-9.
(Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
I will bless the LORD at all times; I shall praise Him evermore!
My soul makes its boast in Jesus—Him we gladly all adore!
Refrain v. 3
Magnify the Name of Jesus!
Let us lift His Name in praise!
When I sought the LORD, He answered and from fear delivered me.
Those who look to Him are radiant; shamed their face shall never be.
Refrain
When I cried to God, He heard me, and from trouble rescued me.
’Round their camp His angel lingers that they may delivered be.
Refrain
Taste and see how good is Jesus; blessed are all who in Him hide.
None shall lack for any blessing who in Christ will e’er confide.
Refrain
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
For more teaching about the subject of this series, “Jesus throughout the Scriptures”, download our free ReVision study, “We Would See Jesus”, by clicking here.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
