◄ What Does Psalm 34:11 Mean? ►

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalm 34:11(NASB)

Verse of the Day

This Psalm is a beautiful testimony of salvation - by grace through faith in the Lord. It begins with an explosion of praise and thanksgiving where David proclaims God's goodness and grace... and calls on each one of us to extol His holy name and trust in His everlasting mercy.

David was a man after God's own heart who desired to pass on the truth of the glorious goodness of God to the next generation... and he calls on us to taste and see that the Lord is good. As we continue to read this passage, we find that his song of praise changes into practical instruction on the fear of the Lord and of taking to heart the truth of His Word: "Come, you children, listen to me," David declares, "and I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

David explains that we must keep our tongue from evil and our lips from spreading lies if we desire a long life with productive days. He goes on to remind us that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are always attentive to their cries - but he also points out that the face of the Lord is against those that plot evil and that the memory of the wicked will one day be cut off from the face of the earth.

He further encourages us by letting us know that when the righteous call out to the Lord, He hears them and He delivers them out of all their troubles - for the Lord is very close to those that are broken-hearted and He saves all whose spirits are crushed.

We live in a sinful world where righteous men or women have many troubles, but we also have the assurance that the Lord delivers those who trust in Him... from all their difficulties.

We live in a fallen world and are surrounded by a wicked and perverse generation which delights to dishonour the Lord their God and His blood-bought children - but we have His assurance that the Lord redeems His servants and no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

What a wonderful example this verse is... to all parents and teachers. What an important lesson to learn that biblical wisdom and training in righteousness should be passed on to young people from the older generation.

David made some foolish mistakes in many areas of his life - but he was a man after God's own heart because he learned to trust the Lord in all things - and not to lean on His own understanding. David learned to acknowledge the Lord in all things and finally he became a wise parent, for he took time to teach his children - and his children's children - that the fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom and understanding.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons that I can learn from the Psalms and for the truths that they contain. Give me the opportunity to teach the children You have placed in my life to reverence You in all things. May they learn the importance of listening to Your voice and trusting Your Word in all things. I pray for all young people of today who do not have the godly counsel that David gave to his sons and ask that You would bring many to a saving faith and an understanding of Your goodness and grace. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.