Psalm 34:10. “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

One day this week, a radio station was broadcasting the top of the hour news. Two stories reported made me stop and thank God for His goodness to His people. First, the anchor broadcast the statement that “last month three million new unemployment applications were received by the government.” Later in the day, another anchor broadcast said that “40 percent of the restaurants in major cities have now closed and do not plan to reopen.” The Coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on jobs and the economy in the U.S. This isn’t to say that the economy isn’t trying to rebound. Businesses are mutating and trying to stay afloat financially. In another piece of anecdotal evidence, while headed to the church, twice I have passed a line of cars lining a side road for hundreds of yards even reaching out onto Highway 78. Why? These were families lined up for a local food bank.

My mind then moved to our church family. We have been blessed as a church. I couldn’t help but think of this verse in Psalm 34. To understand a verse in the Bible it is important that you understand the context. What was the setting in which the verse or passage was penned? This psalm was a song by David. The sweet psalmist of Israel was a fugitive for close to twenty years. He slept in caves, ditches, and forests constantly. So, what is the background for this passage? David had killed Goliath years before. Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him personally and with his personal soldiers. Running from Saul, David fled into Philistine territory, the sworn enemies of God’s people. Achish, king of Gath, knows the story of David and Goliath. Once he learns who David is he is arrested and chained. David feigns madness allowing drool to roll down his face. This behavior is reported to Achish. In ancient times, insanity was feared greatly so he has David unchained and taken to the border with orders, ‘don’t come back or we will kill all of you.’ Safely away from the Philistines, David takes refuge in the Cave of Adullam in the hill country of Judea. Sitting in this cave he picks up his harp and begins writing our Psalm. With that background focus on verse 10.

  1. “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger…” It has often been said we live in a dog-eat-dog world; every person fighting another and trying to inflict harm so we can get an edge. Nature is often cruel. It is estimated that only a few animals in nature live into old age and even among those they have scars from fighting with predators. The Philistines were a warring people thinking little of human life. If they wanted something, such as food, coin, or slaves, the use of force was the method most often used. They were like a pride of lions hunting, not finding much, and getting more and more hungry. Saul wasn’t much different than the Philistines with his blood lust for killing. Hungry lions that can’t find meat to eat. Have you ever noticed the appetites of the world? Nothing is ever enough. The more they have the more they desire. James, the epistle, refers to those that “consume it upon their own lusts.”
  2. “But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” God seekers are taken care of. The little word “want” isn’t used today as it was 400 years ago. Today we use it as any desire that crosses our minds. We say things like “I want that…” The word in our text means our “needs are met.” We shall not need good things, God will supply. A companion verse in the New Testament is Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.” Sitting in the cave of Adullam with all of his needs being met personally and for his men, David reflects on recent days. Venison, now hanging for meals instead of being hungry. Israelite families have been giving David and his merry band vegetables and bread to go with the meat. All this “goodness” as opposed to hunger.

What happened to have this change in situation? David stepped out of the will of God when he ran into Philistia. He didn’t trust God to protect him from Saul and he lied to a priest to get some bread to eat. We need to learn a valuable and sobering lesson. Outside the will of God is not a good place to be. Trouble comes from every side and in spades when we don’t seek the Lord. Let’s commit, let’s covenant together, that we will always seek the Lord.