Pastor's Ponderings: Old Testament bible study of Psalm 34 (October 17, 2025)

October 17, 2025:  Friday Bible Study on Old Testament of Psalm 34

Blessings and peace to you on Friday morning.  Oh, you noticed?  We have been busy at the church getting the yard sale put together, and I have been in and out around the property checking on the unsheltered group who has been causing problems around our property and the Mormon church across the street.  Yesterday, I did have the police come over to check during the day too.  And apparently last night they came late and moved the group from both properties.  They have also been impacting the neighborhood and the neighbors of the church.  Keep all of this in your prayers.  It is not that we don't support the unsheltered community, but this group is violent and leaving their waste of all kinds on the property.  Please keep the Prasek’s in your prayers as Becky is now hospitalized in Minnesota with extreme weakness.  Pray for Ron too.  This health issue may well delay them from arriving in Tucson this autumn.

Today we are in the 34th Psalm.  The lead in the commentaries states that this is King David making Abimelech think that David is less than competent, hiding his true nature, faith, and strength from Abimelech.  In some ways this was David escaping from a circumstance that could have been very troubling and dangerous for him.   Abimelech was the name of several Philistine kings that preceded David's time.  However, by David's time, the name was used to describe any Philistine king of a particular time period.  What we do know is that this king was powerful and dangerous, so it was wise of David to cover his true ability by faking his mental and physical strength.   In this kind of circumstance, we find a guide by David's behavior and faith.  You and I often find ourselves in situations in which we have little control from time to time.  We may get an illness, or lose a job, or have a serious car accident, or an unexpected loss, and the list goes on and on, doesn't it?  And rarely does a person get through their entire life without having at least a couple of these times.  So in the remainder of this Psalm we find David extoling the goodness of turning to God with Praise and Thanksgiving even when the situation would seem to not warrant such worship and joy in the relationship of a person of faith with God, having faith in the LORD'S constant care, even when we might feel like we have been abandoned.  David helps us understand that God always listens, perhaps most especially when it feels like He isn't listening.  The next part of this is that God always acts!   You and I can depend on the LORD'S inbreaking love and help as He responds to the needs of those who love Him.  David also indicates that those who are faithless and enemies of the faithful are likely to suffer due to the natural circumstances of their choices, and sometimes at the punishment of the LORD, but for those who are faithful, regardless of their economic circumstances, or their place in the society where they live, or if they are suffering at the hands of the faithless, the LORD will be with them.  Note that does not mean every answer that the faithful might like to have, or every gift from God blessing them with wealth and statis will come to them, but God's promises remain steadfast.  For we who are faithful that means forgiveness, life in the presence of God, and salvation. 

Thanks for being with me this morning. May the LORD keep you always in His Loving Care.   

With Love in Christ, Pastor Kim.