Lent Day 21

Scripture: Psalm 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;    

his praise will always be on my lips.

2 I will glory in the Lord;    

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the Lord with me;    

let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;    

he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;    

their faces are never covered with shame.

6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;    

he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,    

and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;    

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,    

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,    

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;    

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Whoever of you loves life    

and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil    

and your lips from telling lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;    

seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,    

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,    

to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;    

he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted    

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,    

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20 he protects all his bones,    

not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;    

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The Lord will rescue his servants;    

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Today's Meditation: 

In this Psalm, David declares that praise of the Lord will always be on his lips. He says he will boast in the Lord, rejoice, and glorify his name. David tells us how the Lord has delivered him from fears and saved him from his troubles. He tells us the many ways that the Lord has been his refuge and his deliverer. David understands that God desires good things for us in spite of our human actions. David knows personally that we will never achieve perfection in our lives on earth. But he also sees that God delivers him from his troubles.

We will always have troubles, but God will always be near. if we listen and ask, the Holy Spirit will help us discern what is right. And because of Jesus, we will always be able to move forward.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for always drawing us near to you, even when we are the source of our own troubles. We know you want us to be the best we can be, even though our human-ness leads us astray. Help us to remember that you are our daily guide, and help us to pay attention to your guidance. Amen.

Kandi Ray