Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Learning lessons on the God of all Comfort

a. From 2 Corinthians (Paul)

b. From Psalm 34 (David)

2. The context of Psalm 34

a. A reflective Psalm

Superscription

“A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.”

i. Reflecting on a time of when he struggled to get out of serious trouble

ii. Reflecting on a time of when he struggled to fully exercise trust in God

b. Sharing of lessons learnt

i. Lessons that have now come from a more mature understanding of God and life

ii. Different strands of thought

THE GOODNESS OF GOD TESTIFIED

1. One key aspect of God that David came to appreciate – the goodness of God

2. Testimonies of the goodness of God

a. From David himself

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”   Psalm 34:4

b. From others

“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.”   Psalm 34:5

c. From even a poor man

“This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”   Psalm 34:6

3. A special insight concerning God’s goodness

“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.”   Psalm 34:7

a. God sends special protection to those who fear Him

b. Constant all round protection

c. Even in ways we do not fully see or understand

THE INVITATION TO TASTE AND TRUST IN GOD’S GOODNESS

1. The goodness of God

a. Testified wonderfully in the lives of others

b. But it has to be experienced at a personal level

2. David’s exhortation and invitation to all

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”   Psalm 34:8

a. To taste and see that the Lord is good

i. David’s focus was on God Himself

ii. One has to taste (experience) before one can see (know) that God is good

b. Trusting in God

i. This is tied in to the experience of God’s goodness

ii. Trusting in God enables one to personally experience His goodness

iii. The man who trusts in God is truly blessed!

THE TREASURE OF GOD’S GOODNESS

1. Another special insight from David concerning God’s goodness

“Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”   Psalm 34:9-10

a. A contrast with young lions

i. They are strong predators

ii. They can depend on their strength to obtain what they want

iii. Yet they too will lack and suffer hunger

b. What God promises to those who fear Him and seek Him

i. They will not be in want

ii. They shall not lack any good thing

2. The treasure of God’s good provision

a. Despite

i. Challenges

ii. Pain

b. Those who fear and seek Him will not lack any good thing

i. In His time

ii. In His will

iii. In His wisdom

ENCOURAGEMENT TO US ALL

1. To draw comfort

a. From God’s goodness testified

b. From God’s goodness tasted and trusted

c. From the treasure of God’s goodness

2. Our part

a. To trust Him

b. To fear Him

c. To seek Him

d. To testify for Him