Are you practicing "the fear of the LORD?"

David’s life was one of adventure in Israel.  From being a teen shepherd, protecting his sheep from a lion and a bear, fighting Goliath and the Philistines, to hiding out in caves from King Saul.  He had seen his share of trouble and “excitement.” Psalm 34 comes off of another adventure when he was with the Philistines, and he faked insanity.  God had delivered David from their hands and brought him safely back to Israel.  After that adventure, many people came to David to follow him.  Samuel describes what these men were like –

“David, therefore, departed thence and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.  And every one that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men” (1 Samuel 22:1-2).

How would you like to lead an army made up of those men?!  This was of the LORD.  Please take note of what David did with them in Psalm 34:11.

 

“Come, ye children, hearken unto me.”
David has already challenged people in general to “taste and see that the LORD is good” (v. 8).  And he has reminded the godly (“saints”) to “fear the LORD” for “there is no want to them that fear Him” (v. 9).  And now he turns to the young people and says, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me.” The Hebrew word for “children” can refer to “sons,” or the children plural, male and female (see BDB [1]).

“Children are the most hopeful persons to teach – wise men who wish to propagate their principles take care to win the ear of the young” [2] (Spurgeon).

As David looked around at his new band of “mighty men,” I’m not sure that David was only focusing on those young in years.

“Come, ye children – All ye that are of an humble, teachable spirit” [3] (Clarke).

It makes sense that he had his work cut out for him when teaching his new gang of 400 misfits.  What do you teach people like this?

This is a beautiful challenge to all Christian parents.

“The identification of the psalmist’s listeners as children recalls a common wisdom motif of parents instructing their children (Exodus 12:26; Deuteronomy 6:6–9) and shows that vv.  11–14 form a wisdom section in this psalm….” [4] (CSB).

 

“I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
What do we teach our children?  What did David teach that band of misfits?  “The fear of the LORD.”

“As David describes the fear of the LORD, it is rooted in action, not religious feelings.  “David is saying that the fear of the Lord is doing right, that is, that it involves obedience” [5] (Boice – EWC).

What is required from the man or woman, boy or girl, “who desires life?” (v. 12).  They must understand and practice “the fear of the LORD.”

David taught them –

Do not speak evil or tell lies!

“Then avoid saying anything hurtful, and never let a lie come out of your mouth” [6] (Psalm 34:13, HSB).

Do good and stop doing evil.  Strive for peace.  Go after it!

“Stop doing anything evil, and do good.  Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully” [7] (Psalm 34:14, HSB).

This way of life is familiar to those who love the LORD and fear Him.  If believers really believed and practiced these principles, what a testimony we could have for the Lord in this lost world today!

 

Quote: “Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain.  What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world” [8] (John Piper).

 

 

 

[1] BDB – Brown, Driver, Briggs.  Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] TOD – C.H. Spurgeon.  Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] ACC – Adam Clarke.  Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] CSB, Kevin R. Warstler, “Psalms,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed.  Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 847.
[5] EWC – David Guzik.  Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[6] HSB is the Harvest Study Bible from Harvest Ministries in Guam.
[7] HSB, ibid.
[8] Piper’s quote is from his book, “Don’t Waste Your Life.” Downloaded: March 27, 2022.  From: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/christian-living.