I sought the Lord is a phrase from Psalm 34:4. David is in distress because Saul is seeking to kill him. He is afraid but immediately turns his heart to God. His confidence is in what God can do, not what he can do. He is seeking help, wisdom, and answers.
Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
When he sought the Lord, the Lord answered him and delivered him from all his fears. Fear is an emotion that can be paralyzing. It can cause you to have thoughts that are untrue. Even though David was being hunted like an animal, he blessed God in verse 1. This is a choice. We too can choose to bless God or to wallow in self-pity. He is making a declaration to praise God continually.
Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
David’s confidence in God rescued him from a feeling of desperation. It gave him hope and peace when he was being hunted like an animal. It changed his focus from his problems to what God can do. His desire to praise the Lord sets the tone for his life.
David expresses God’s protection in verse 7 when he speaks about the angels encamping around him. He knows in his heart and mind that his God is a good God and that He will always make a way for him. As he remembered God’s goodness, he could rest and be at peace. He is so confident in the goodness of God that in verse 8 he invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Psalm 34:7-8 “ The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
David turns to others in verse 11. He invites us to listen to him and learn to fear the Lord. He wants us to learn from his experiences. He gives us instructions on seeking the Lord and how we are to live if we want our cries to be heard.
Psalm 34:11 “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
Psalm 34:13-17 “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
When was the last time you truly sought after the Lord? Did you pray and feel as if you were talking to the ceiling? If so, we have the answer. Check your heart and ask the Lord to reveal anything in your life that is not pleasing to Him. Then, determine that you will change. If this is your heart’s desire, He will help you. Matthew 7:7-8 promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him. He will be our help in times of trouble, our Savior from our sins, and our redeemer to make us at one with God.
Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
In Isaiah 55:6, we are told to seek the Lord, but in this verse, there is an urgency to call upon Him while He may be found. This implies there may come a time when He will not hear us. When He is dealing with our hearts is the time to respond. When we refuse to surrender, we are hardening our hearts toward Him. This is a dangerous place to be. It is time we all sought the Lord with our whole lives. Do not wait until it is too late to call upon Him. If you will seek Him now, He will respond.
Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
