SCRIPTURE: Psalm 34
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. [Psalm 34:19-20] David wrote this psalm after God helped him escape from king Achish [1 Samuel 21:10-15; Abimelech means ‘my father and king’ and is probably a title, like Pharoah or Caesar]. David is gushing with praise, he is overwhelmed by God’s goodness. He makes bold declarations that seem hard to believe: Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. [Psalm 34:9] Nothing? And all bones protected? Really?
The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. but when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs… These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” [John 19:32-33,36] Jesus is the righteous man who experiences many troubles but is delivered (the resurrection). John says that Jesus ultimately fulfills this reference to broken bones. In another reference, Jesus is the passover lamb whose bones are not broken [Exodus 12:46].
David does not know about Jesus, but he does know that God will somehow overcome evil and restores the good. His own experience testifies to that. He wants others to ‘taste and see’ this too. Of course our day-to-day experience includes suffering, but David is confident that ultimately God blessed, protects, delivers His children. What David states in the extreme is the ultimate truth that enables us to endure the experiential reality of suffering. Yes, we go through many troubles, but because of God’s mercy, we will be delivered.
I am told that Chaos Theory describes the reality that at the micro, up close perspective, things are random and chaotic; but as we step back and observe the macro, big picture perspective, things take on order, meaning and purpose. This is how I see experiential reality (micro) and ultimate truth (macro). Up close we experience lack, broken bones, many troubles, but from a God, eternal perspective, it all comes together in God’s good purpose. Jesus enters the chaos, and restores order. Jesus is the guarantee that not one of our bones will ultimately be broken.
PRAYER:
Lord, I cling to You in the chaos, You will deliver me!