Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
I often hear believers quote the promises of God’s Word either out of context or misappropriated to someone other than for whom they were intended. For instance, the wonderful covenant promise in Romans 8:28, “we know that all things work together for good”, is often quoted by some intending to offer hope and encouragement to another going through a time of trial and trouble. However, when quoted in context, we find Romans 8:28 is a promise “to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose”.
Rather than a blanket promise for all, the contextual application of Romans 8:28 is for the believer who sacrificially loves the LORD first and foremost. The child of God who loves the LORD is assured God is working out every detail of his life for his good and God’s glory. And what is the intended end of God working all things for our good and His glory? That question is answered in Romans 8:29 when we read, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Those who love the LORD can be confident God is working “all things” [even troubles and trials] in harmony with His purpose to conform us to the likeness [i.e. spiritual character] of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Desiring to keep our meditations in God’s Word in context and making a proper application, we turn our thoughts to Psalm 34:7-10. I will note the first of two promises found in those verses. The first is, God Protects (34:7).
We are by nature finite, earthly, temporal creatures and, apart from eyes of faith and God’s revelations, we see only immediate circumstances and are incapable of grasping all God is doing. Writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul warned believers there is an unseen spiritual battle being waged in this world and “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Were God to draw back the veil that shields our earthly eyes, the plots of the wicked one and his spiritual and fleshly emissaries who threaten the lives of the saints and the Church would nigh overwhelm us.
My friend, is it not obvious we have leaders who oppose God, despise His laws and commandments, reject moral precepts that hearken back to creation, and are forcing upon our youth a moral decadence that will march our civilization over the precipice of moral debauchery? Do you not see the growing shadow evil is casting across our nation and world? Can you not hear the increasing animosity against the God of Heaven and the people of the Word? Do you not sense in your soul there is a battle being waged by unseen powers? Indeed, if it were not for God’s promises we would despair.
Psalm 34:7 – The angel [messenger; ambassador] of the LORD [i.e. perhaps none other the Messiah Himself] encampeth [abides; dwells] round about [encircles; surrounds] them that fear [revere] him, and delivereth [rescues] them.
What an extraordinary, comforting promise we find in this verse. My friend, I invite you to embrace David’s confidence in the LORD. God’s angel, the very LORD of heaven Himself, is the Protector of the saints who fear and revere Him! We who love the LORD and worship Him have no cause to fear mortal man!
Copyright 2016 – Travis D. Smith