The God that Camps

Psalm 34 contains so many well-known verses. 

Peter quotes several of the verses (v. 12-14) from this Psalm (1 Peter 3:10-12). John quotes verse 20 to show how Jesus fulfilled all of the scriptures prophesied about him. (John 19:36)

It is also one of the Psalms for which we are given a historical reference. David wrote this Psalm when he was on the run from King Saul who wanted to kill him. (1 Sam 21: 10-15).

The contrast between what David was going through and the tone of this Psalm struck me. 

Because of David’s popularity after killing the giant Goliath, and because Saul knew David had been anointed to take his throne, Saul wanted to kill David. Saul’s son, Jonathan, loved David and helped him escape. At this moment in David's life, he is alone and isolated. Cut off from family, friends, and the future God promised him. Depressed and desperate.

He is afraid. He believes that there is but a step between him and death. (20:3) In his fear he does not rely on God. He is going to rely on his smarts. 

David goes to Nob. The priest and the tabernacle are here. The ephod is here. This was a tool used by the priests to discern God’s will. David could have inquired of the Lord what his next step should be. Instead, he lies to the priest, picks up Goliath’s sword (which, ironically, was right next to the ephod) and runs to Gath, Goliath’s hometown. 

Really? What was he thinking?  

When is deceit better than honesty? Especially before a man of God? When is an unwielding sword (6 feet long. Hard to use. Hard to hide) better than a word from God? How could running into the enemy’s town (where the original owner of that sword had been born!) be better than staying put in the tabernacle? 

Fear makes people do all sorts of foolish and dangerous actions. Foolish and dangerous actions lead to humiliation and shame.

And so, the story gets messier. An enemy who sees him in Nob will later betray him to Saul who will order all the priests of Nob killed. The folks of Gath don’t like David being there - understandable. David pretends to be a mad man and they kick him out. 

Now he is not only afraid. He is ashamed. He finds himself alone in the cave of Adullam. We do not know all the details of what David’s time in the cave looked like. It is recorded in only one verse. (1 Sam. 22:1). 

But we are able to read about “the end of the story” in Psalm 34 which has a decidedly different tone than the story in 1 Samuel 21. 

Psalm 34 is an acrostic Psalm - a list of truths arranged by the letters of the alphabet. I can imagine David at a point later in his life thinking back over how God had brought him to the throne of Israel and wanting to record the lessons he had learned. He thought about this particular low time in that journey when he was “this poor man” (v. 6) but had experienced God being with him even in this lowest of moments. This Psalm is one of praise because God delivered him from all his fears and saved him out of all his troubles. 

David thought he was alone, but he found out that God was there. He tells us that God encamped, “tented”  around him. (Ps. 34:7). One scholar has translated this: “The Angel of Yahweh is ever actually camping around those who fear him.” (Alec Motyer, Psalms by the Day.) 

This harkens back to the time that God showed imprisoned Joseph His steadfast love, (literally “tented” his love over Joseph - Gen. 39:21).  It’s the word used for the tabernacle. During the wanderings in the wilderness, the tent of the Lord was always in the center of his people, a visual picture of God’s heart for his people. (Numbers 2). He wanted to be among them. He went with them. 

When circumstances in life move us, or better said, when God uses the circumstance in life to move us, He moves his tent with ours. 

Appraised of the abiding presence of the Lord in his life and aware of the consequences of fearing man, David implores us in Psalm 34 to join him in fearing God.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (v. 8)

The word for “taste,” used as a verb in verse 8 is the same word used as a noun in the inscription where it is translated “behavior” or “sense.”  David introduces this Psalm by telling us that when he went to Gath he changed his sense/behavior. He acted contrary to common sense. He acted like a madman.  He scribbled on walls. His face was covered in spit. He entered the cave of Adullam full of shame. 

David calls on us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” He is encouraging us not to act contrary to common sense, but to do that which is fitting for the people of God. 

Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,

for those who fear him have no lack! (v. 9)

As David ran from Saul, he thought he had lost everything. His wife, his future, his best friend, his job, his family. Afraid and alone in the cave he learned he had everything he needed if he had God. Having run in humiliation from Gath, his face was now radiant and unashamed. 

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed. (v. 5). 

There is only one eventual outcome for us if we act and respond out of fear of man’s opinion or threats. Shame. Instead, taste, experience, the goodness of the LORD. Find in him satisfaction and treasure and safety. 

What are you feeding your heart and mind with? FB gossip? Instagram conspiracies? Pinterest ideals? Ask yourself if these things do not stir up anxiety and fear. 

Where does one go to experience the goodness of God? To His word, of course. And in quiet moments of reflecting on his past kindnesses to you. Beginning with the cross, continue to the breath he gave you this morning and everything in between. 

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

and let us exalt his name together! (v. 3)

I found this great map that shows all the places David had to move while running from Saul 

http://etb-media.s3.amazonaws.com/explorethebible/files/2016/08/DavidFleesSaul-1.pdf