HE DRAWS NEAR THOUGH YOU FEEL FAR

February 17, 2017

HE DRAWS NEAR THOUGH YOU FEEL FAR

Psalm 34

Rachel Cantrell

Central Truth

You can experience the fullness of God's love and faithfulness in the middle of heartbreak.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
(Psalm 34:18)

Taste and See That the LORD Is Good

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34:1
This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet} Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

[1] 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

Candidly, I find myself traversing through the terrain of transition. I am a new college graduate, residing in a new state, and recently changed my Facebook status to single. My dream to be united in marriage one day feels distorted and distant as I enter into a season of singleness . . . again. In the midst of change and heartache, my tormentors, Loneliness and Sorrow, fight for authority in my heart. I am broken and confused.

Here I am, struggling to find the balance between mourning the dreams I feel are lost and mustering up the perspective to praise the Lord at all times. And all the while, in my doubt, God shows Himself faithful to me. I made an earthly relationship an idol that I worshiped, believing it would fully satisfy.

I missed that marriage is not about me and my wants. Christ is the One who delivers us from bondage to sin. He leads us through the wall of waves that His hands part before us. He is the God who lovingly annihilates our idols that corrupt and suffocate our hearts. This is the hope that we must cling to. Even though my heart is prone to wander, my God is faithful. He is merciful to me during seasons of loss and seasons of joy, when I am mourning and when I am dancing. 1 Peter 5:10 says, "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." He is unchanging and does not forsake those He loves. He completes the good work He started in us.

So what has a broken heart from a relationship done in my life? It showed me where life and hope are truly found. Hope is found in seeking the Lord. "I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4) He is near to the brokenhearted. He saves those crushed in spirit.

1. How do you respond in seasons of loss and brokenness? Do you rely on your own understanding? The comfort of others? God's Word?

2. Are you ready to trust Christ daily in every aspect of life—even with a broken heart?

3. Think of a time when your faith was tested. How was God faithful? What did you learn?