Psalm 34: Praise in the Midst of the Storm
Psalm 34: Praise in the Midst of the Storm by Claudia Hines
How do we praise the Lord when we are still in the middle of a storm? When we have prayed and done everything we can but we do not see any answers. We do not know how things are going to work out? We wonder if the Lord has heard our prayers. Can we praise Him before we see the deliverance?
David gives us an example of what it means to praise Adonai in the midst of the battle.
David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be Israel’s future king. However, it would be over 15 years before he would take his rightful place on the throne. Through all those years the Lord was preparing David’s heart and bringing him to a place where he would learn to completely depend and trust in the Lord.
After David was chosen to be the next King he faced a difficult time and was on the run constantly. It is in the middle this uncertainty that we read in Psalm 34 that He chose to praise the Lord.
The first words of the Psalm 34 are:
“I will bless Adonai at all times; His praise will always be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1, CJB)
Instead of allowing fear to consume him, David chose to praise the Lord. David understood that praise is not based on our circumstances. It is not dependent on whether life is going well. Praise means to sing or tell others about the goodness of the Lord and to be thankful for His blessings. It is rooted in the belief that the Lord’s promises are true and never change and that He is worthy of praise.
David didn’t say he would praise Adonai after Saul had been defeated. He didn’t say he would praise Adonai after he was safe. He said “I will bless Adonai at all times” (Psalm 34:1). He was praising the Lord in the midst of the battle, before deliverance had come, while he was being pursued by King Saul. He did not wait to praise Adonai until after the Lord had saved and delivered him.
In the next verse we read that David was boasting about what the Lord had done and would continue to do for him:
“When I boast, it will be about Adonai; the humble will hear of it and be glad.” (Psalm 34:2, CJB)
Today our personal battles may look different from David’s. We may not find ourselves hiding in an actual cave, but many of us know what it feels like to be in fear, uncertainty, and helplessness. We may be facing finance struggles, problems at work, difficult family relationships, illness, or uncertainty about the future. Maybe you have been praying for something that has not changed, and you are wondering where and when the answers will come. Like David, we often find ourselves in circumstances that feel beyond our control. These struggles can bring anxiety, doubt, fear, and worry about what tomorrow will bring. The enemy preys on those thoughts and fears and adds fuel to make them grow in magnitude. The enemy wants us to focus on our fears. But David showed us another way. Instead of letting fear control his thoughts, he turned his attention toward Adonai and chose to praise Him.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us:
“For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” (CJB)
There is a spiritual battle taking place around us every day. The enemy wants us to remain focused on our problems so he can rob us of the joy and peace that comes from trusting our Heavenly Father.
That is why we have to put on the armor of God every day. In the morning, the enemy may be waiting to attack you. Throughout the day, he works to steal our peace. In the evening, our thoughts and even dreams can be negatively influenced. We can pray the armor of Adonai covers you during the day and night (Ephesians 6).
David chose to focus on the Lord’s deliverance and faithfulness. Confidence and faith came from him remembering how faithful Adonai had been to him throughout his life. The Lord had rescued him from the lion and bear, given him victory over Goliath and continued to protect him from Saul’s attempts to kill him.
“I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of your deeds.” (Psalm 77:11-12, NKJV)
David was in the cave, in a place of desperation. He was constantly being chased and threatened with death. The cave was not what was going to protect David. His protection came from the Lord. Instead of succumbing to fear, David turned to praise and had faith that the Lord would deliver him.
“Fear Adonai, you holy ones of His, for those who fear Him lack nothing.” (Psalm 34:10, CJB)
There is power in the words we speak and the thoughts we think. The words coming out of our mouths should be words that praise our Father. When we are praising Adonai our focus shifts to the greatness of the Lord who protects and delivers us.
Are we still worshiping Him when we are in the midst of our difficulties and pain? Praise is a weapon against fear. Praise proclaims that He is faithful even when we cannot yet see what He is doing.
This lesson of trusting Adonai in every situation has become deeply personal for me. Today, regardless of my circumstances, I chose to praise the Lord before the battle is over because I have seen His faithfulness again and again.
Throughout my life, I have gone through and experienced many hardships. Many times I wondered know how things would work out. I couldn’t fix the problems myself, and there was no one coming to deliver me. I could only have faith and trust in what I couldn’t see, in what only the Lord could do. It was during those times when Abba Father showed up. I have learned to trust and have faith in the Lord time and time again in my life. I have learned to have complete faith in Him and not look to myself or others for deliverance. I have had to release the urge to want to control my life. I am strong in the faith because the Lord has shown His faithfulness to me by delivering me. I know Him as The Great I Am, as Jehovah Jireh, My Provider.
Looking back on difficult seasons in my life, I can now see that I was never alone. Even though I could not always see what the Father was doing, I can look back now and see He was always with me. David also knew he was not alone while hiding out in the cave. Even with King Saul drawing near to kill him, he had a spiritual army with him. He wrote:
“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them”. (Psalm 34:7, NKJV)
We can have this same confidence today. This scripture is very encouraging to me because it paints a beautiful picture of the protection that we have. What a thought that heaven’s armies, the angels of the Lord, are watching over us like they watched over David. Re-read this scripture and think about how the angels of the Lord are watching over you. We can’t see them, but they are there. We do not face life’s battles alone.
Because I have witnessed the Lord’s faithfulness in my life, it is now easier for me to praise Adonai when hard times come. How do we know that God is with us in our trials? Because His Scripture tells us:
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NKJV)
David was running from Saul, the man who wanted to kill him, and it would be natural for him to be fearful. What are we fearful of? Is it what other people think of us? Are we fearful about our needs being met? Are we fearful of what is going to happen in the future? Notice what Scripture says about fear.
Verses 4 and 5 five of Psalm 34 say:
“Proclaim with me the greatness of Adonai let us exalt His name together. I sought Adonai, and He answered me, He rescued me from everything I feared.” (Psalm 34:4-5)
David was exalting and praising the Lord who delivered him from all his fears. That same Lord can deliver you from all your fears. Not just some of the things you fear, but all your fears.
“Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Adonai.” (Psalm 34:12, CJB)
The only thing we should fear is the Almighty.
Just because we obey and follow His commands does not mean we will never experience hardship.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV)
What we can have assurance of is that we will never face hardship, difficulties, trials, and suffering alone.
“But fear not, God is with you.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
Don’t be distressed, for I am your God.
I give you strength, I give you help,
I support you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, CJB)
David chose to praise the Lord before the battle was over. He did not know how or when deliverance would come, but he knew that the Lord had been faithful to him before and he trusted that Adonai would remain faithful.
Today, regardless of my circumstances, I choose to praise the Lord before the battle is over. I have learned that I may not see or understand what the Father is doing, but I know He hears my prayers and knows my struggles and hardships. I can look back and remember all the times He has delivered and provided for me in the past. That gives me strength to let go of trying to control or worry about the situations I am struggle with and trust My Father.
We can praise Him before deliverance comes because we know He loves us and is faithful. We are never alone. Remember “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them”. (Psalm 34:7, NKJV)