Learning to Listen #9

Psalm 34 is a Psalm of David full of verses familiar to students of scripture. It was written by David when he was on the run, and had been delivered from house arrest by King Abimelech.  Listen to these familiar lines:

I will bless the Lord at all times...

    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

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.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

    and saves the crushed in spirit.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous

    and his ears toward their cry.

These well-known truths about God's character and worthiness to be praised and trusted surround this stanza in the center of the Psalm:

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.

David says: "listen to what I've learned." If you want life to be good, it's not found in the palaces of the right and famous; if you want life to be fulfilling it's not found in what you have or can experience. It's a simple life lived before God.  Be Honest: speak the truth to yourself and others. And Be Holy: don't just avoid what you know is wrong; pursue what you know is good. How do you know the difference? Learn to listen to God, the One Who listens to you.