Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Saturday, March 7, Psalm 34:8-16 Review

Yesterday we reviewed the first seven verses. Today we'll be reviewing the middle nine. As you recall, Peter quoted much of this section in chapter 3 of his first letter, which was my inspiration to memorize this wonderful Psalm, along with the influence of the Beatitudes and a Phil Keaggy song that also quoted part of Psalm 34.

8: Tet: "O taste and see that the LORD is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

9: Yod: "O fear the LORD, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him."

10: Kaph: "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: But they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing."

11: Lamed: "Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD."

I remember going through a number of passages from John 6 as we progressed in these verses. I return now to another: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (47-51)

12: Mem: "What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good?"

13: Nun: "Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile."

14: Samek: "Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it."

15: Ain: "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry."

16: Pe: "The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth."

This is the passage recited by Peter. We contemplated at this time that the world's idea of warfare is contrary to how God has taught us. Our weapons are filled with the love of God, and His final appeal through us, His chosen ambassadors, is this: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV)

And we prepare in this way, as Peter teaches us, just before reciting from Psalm 34:

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." (3:8-9)

We are already guaranteed the "blessing" of everlasting life. Let's be Christ's ambassadors and proclaim His message: "we implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God".

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*KJV used*

Memory Helps

Again, I print out my devotionals each day, so I will pull these ones out and review the "Helps" to further etch the passages into my brain. And then I pray that the knowledge I have been given will drop into my heart and I learn "wisdom" as I apply them in my life. (you can pick them off as well on my FB page)