July 8, 2019 
The word Sabbath means to cease.  So as Dr. Brooks is away on sabbatical, we will be using his original devotionals from 2009 on the book of Psalms.  He will resume The Bible Project devotionals upon his return.  Thank you for reading with us and praying for him as he replenishes his soul for the next seven years of ministry.
Psalm 34
I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life
    and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord will rescue his servants;
    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

New International Version (NIV)
If you really had to hide, where would you go?  Several years ago, among our guests was a little girl who convinced our younger son to play hide and seek with her.  Before long we were all playing.  Searching for a place to hide gave me a new perspective on our home.  David spent a large part of his time running for his life and hiding from Saul.  One time, to save his own life, he went to a neighboring King pretending to be insane.  Eventually, his host sent him away in a time of war.  At that time, David wrote Psalm 34.  This Psalm is an acrostic in Hebrew; each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

In view of God’s protection, David magnifies the Lord and exalts his name.  When we look to the Lord, we will be radiant, reflecting his glory, and we will never be ashamed.  How was David safe?  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them.  David has tasted and seen that the Lord is good. 

In verse 11, David begins to teach the children the fear of the Lord.  Those who fear the Lord are careful what they say.  They turn from evil and do good as they seek and pursue peace.  David gives thanks for God’s deliverance again and again.  David has taken refuge in God, and found the best hiding place of all.  Do you know the song, “Hiding Place”?  Meditate on these words and make them your confession of praise to God:

“You are my hiding place; 
You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance 
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you!  I will trust in you. 
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong, in the strength of the Lord.’ 
I will trust in you.” 

This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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