Psalm 34:4-7 (NKJV) I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
David’s fearlessness or lack of inhibition in seeking the face of God came from his conviction that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. Also, because He was convinced that he was righteous, He acted righteously by refusing to lay hands on King Saul despite numerous opportunities to do so. This passage encourages us to seek the face of God.
David was alone when he was fleeing from Saul. The spirit of fear could have overwhelmed this young man as he was being hunted down by King Saul and his army. As a fugitive, it couldn’t have been easy falling asleep at night. However, he testified in this Psalm that angels were encamped around him. Though David was in deep trouble, he was assured of God’s help and protection. Instead of being overwhelmed by anxiety, David learned to seek the face of God and cried out to Him in prayer.
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies which represented the presence of God. The veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom when Jesus dealt with the sin issue that separated us from God by offering His blood in the Heavenly Tabernacle. Therefore, all of us who are hidden in Christ and blessed with the gift of righteousness can approach the throne of grace with boldness to seek the face of God and ask Him for help and deliverance. For this reason, we are more blessed than David, and should do even greater exploits for God. We will do more when we truly know God and understand what He has done for us through Jesus. We are highly favoured and greatly blessed by God. His eyes are on us, and His ears are attentive to our cries, because we have been made righteous in Christ.
God listens to the cries of the His covenant people, and He responded to the Israelites’ cries when they were suffering as slaves in Egypt. Likewise, David testified that God heard his cry and saved him from all his troubles. We must not allow the spirit of fear to immobilise us with all our concerns. Instead, we are to cast all our cares and anxieties to the Lord because He cares for us, and we should meditate on His perfect love towards us. He has our best interests in mind and desires the highest good for our lives. We must guard our minds and not allow anxiety to overwhelm us. By intentionally meditating on the Word of God, especially His promises of deliverance and protection, we will keep the peace of God in our hearts and our minds.
Sermon Series: Great Adventures and Great Exploits
寻求祂的面
诗篇34:4-7 我寻求耶和华，他听了我，救我脱离了一切的恐惧。他们仰望他、就有光荣、面无羞愧。这困苦人呼求、耶和华就垂听、救他脱离一切患难。耶和华的使者、在敬畏他的人四围安营、搭救他们。
大卫在寻求神的面时，既无惧怕，也无拘束，因为他深信耶和华的眼目看顾义人。他深信自己是正义的。虽然有多次机会可以杀扫罗，但他拒绝下手加害扫罗王，他的行为是公正的。这段诗篇鼓励我们去寻求神的面。
大卫逃离扫罗，形单影只。恐惧的灵本来可能压倒这个年轻人，因为他当时正被扫罗王及其军兵追杀。亡命天涯的他到了晚上如何能轻易安睡。然而，他在这篇诗篇中见证了天使在他周围安营。虽然大卫深陷困境，但他确信上帝的帮助和保护。大卫没有被焦虑所淹没，而是学会了寻求神的面，在祷告中向神呼求。
希伯来书4:16 所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。
在旧约中，只有大祭司能够进入代表上帝之同在的至圣所。当耶稣在天上的会幕献上自己的宝血，处理了那使我们与神隔绝的罪的问题，圣殿中至圣所外的幔子被自上而下地撕裂了。因此，我们所有藏在基督里并蒙福领受所赐之公义的，如今可以刚强壮胆地来到施恩宝座前，寻求上帝的面，向祂寻求帮助和救赎！因此，我们比大卫更有福气，可以为主做更多的事。当我们真正认识上帝，真正理解了祂藉着耶稣为我们所做的，我们就会做得更多。我们蒙了上帝极大的恩待和祝福。祂的眼目看顾我们，祂侧耳在听着我们的呼求。所有这些都是可能的，因为我们已经在基督里被称为义！
上帝聆听他的圣约子民的呼求。当以色列人在埃及为奴受苦之时，祂回应了他们的呼求。同样，大卫见证说，上帝垂听他的呼求，拯救他脱离一切的患难。我们绝不能让恐惧的灵利用我们的挂虑使我们无法动弹。相反，我们要把所有的忧虑和不安都交给主，因为祂顾念我们。我们要默想神对我们的完美的爱。祂为我们的最大利益着想，为我们的生命渴望至善的益处。我们必须守护自己的心思意念，不让焦虑压倒。我们要有意地默想神的话语，特别是神关于拯救和保护的应许，我们就能在心思意念中持守神的平安。
讲章系列: 历经涉险，刚强行事
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