Message Notes

THE LEARNING PART WITH REGARDS TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

1. A time of learning

a. As David reflected on his experience with King Achish   (1 Sam. 21:10-15)

b. As he learnt to grow spiritually from this incident

c. He developed his trust in the Lord.

2. Different strands with regards to learning

a. The strand of praising God   (Psalm 34:1-3)

b. The strand of testimonies   (Psalm 34:4-7)

i. Personal testimony

ii. People’s testimonies

iii. A poor man’s testimony

iv. The reality of protection from angels

c. The strand of brokenness   (Psalm 34:18)

THE TEACHING PART WITH REGARDS TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

“Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”   Psalm 34:11

1. This is the didactic part of Psalm 34

2. The people who are called to learn

a. Children

i. This is not a reference to literal children

ii. This is a reference to anyone who is willing to learn

b. The kind of people who will learn

i. The humble will hear and be glad

ii. They are willing to discover God further

3. The motivation to fear the Lord

a. The Lord’s promise of blessings

i. Having a good long life

“Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?”   Psalm 34:12

ii. Experiencing God’s constant help

“ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry….”   Psalm 34:15

b. The Lord’s punitive judgment

“The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”   Psalm 34:16

4. The practice of the fear of the Lord

a. Being a person of righteousness

“ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous.”   Psalm 34:15

b. Doing acts of righteousness

“Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.”   Psalm 34:13-14

THE APPLICATION PART WITH REGARDS TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For
“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”   1 Peter 3:8-12

1. Peter applied the didactic part of Psalm 34

2. The context of going through suffering

3. Learning to fear the Lord by living righteously

a. To be one with others

b. To care for others

c. Not retaliating when reviled

PERSONAL APPLICATION

1. Learn to fear the Lord more than man

a. From personal experience

b. From testimonies

c. Through blessing the Lord at all times

2. Teach others about the fear of the Lord

a. The motivation

i. The Lord’s blessings

ii. The Lord’s judgment

b. The practice of the fear of the Lord

3. Applying the fear of the Lord to life

a. In caring for others

b. In not retaliating