Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Thursday, March 5, Psalm 34:22

Taw (cont): "The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: And none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life…" Psalm 34: 21-22 says the same thing, but in a few more words, with verse 21 of "Taw" bringing out the first part, and verse 22 bringing the second part.

But when Paul wrote that verse, he was able to bring out a third part. We learned that evil brings death, that the Lord redeems the soul, and finally, HOW the Lord does it: "…through Jesus Christ our Lord."

And so this Psalm ends with the hope of redemption. We see that the Lord Himself redeems the soul of his servants, and the promise that "none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."

Jesus said: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28)

He also said: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:37-40)

So we end Psalm 34 with an everlasting hope of redemption. Those who heard, maybe hidden in that cave left with an eternal perspective. And through much hardship, they eventually were given a kingdom.

We will be as well. Jesus said: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." (John 14:1-4)

At the end of that message He said: "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world." (16:33)

And before He began His message, He gave us the example of how we overcome. "He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded." (13:5). And remember, His betrayer was still there, and He washed his as well, which showed that we overcome with love.

His betrayer rejected Him. And when he left, Jesus gave us a new commandment, the first in the law of Christ: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (13:34)

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (35). Not fancy music, not swords or grand displays. We don't step on the necks of our enemies and force conversion. We are known by a reflection: A reflection of the love of God. A soldier who washes the feet of their betrayers as well as their friends. One that does not avenge and is not overcome by evil, but overcomes evil with good. (Romans 12:19)

And that, brothers and sisters, is impossible to do without the grace of God. And we can do this by remembering at least the first and last passages of Psalm 34:

"I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: The humble shall hear therof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt his name together."

"Evil shall slay the wicked: And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: And none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." (34:1-3, 21-22)

This is a soldier in God's Army. And:

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

*KJV used*

Memory Helps

Taw (cont):

"The LORD REDEEMETH
the SOUL of his SERVANTS:
And none of THEM THAT TRUST in him
SHALL be desolate."

I first thought, this verse is as easy as "1-2-3, 1R, 2S, 3T" with an S

Line one: R for "redeemeth"
Line two: 2S for "Soul/Servants"
Line three: 3T: "Them That Trust"
With an S for line 4: "Shall"

So, if you first remember them: Redeemeth, soul/servants, them/that/trust, shall, you have little "anchors" that you can fill with the few words left.

Like this:

Say OUT LOUD: Redeemeth-The Lord redeemeth
Then: Soul/Servants: the soul of his servants
Then: Them that trust: and none of them that trust in him
Finally: Shall: Shall be desolate.

Give it a try!

We link our verse with our memory character that can only phonetically represent 22, when N=2, vowels fillers. I use the "flying NuN" from the old "Flying Nun" show.

She is sitting on the "Singing Mare" (Singing for Psalm, MaRe = 3-4 for chapter 34). She receives a notice from the hand of the LORD saying "REDEEMED!" Suddenly a gust of wind blows her famous flying hat, and the souls of these "servants" of the Lord are taken up. They are initially scared, but the "Trust in Him" and end up in the heavenly kingdom, not desolate, but filled with the Bread of Life!

That's the best I can do this morning. I hope it works for you as well. Make sure you see the Nun and the Mare in the action, and work through the 1R-2S-3T-S trick first.