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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Nearness to God

                                                                                                                        Visit fbcpierz.org/sermons to listen to this sermon. 
Outline: Psalm 34

1.  Praise (Ps. 34:1-3)

2.  Deliverance through Prayer (Ps. 34:4-7)

3.  Fear of the Lord (Ps. 34:8-14)

4.  Nearness to God (Ps. 34:15-18)

5.  Redemption through Christ (Ps. 34:19-22)

Summary:
David, who penned Psalm 34, wrote this Psalm not on the throne as King David,

but as a hunted man, running for his life.  David feigned insanity as a madman, as

he escaped from Abimelech (1 Samuel 21:11-15). Psalm 34 points to Christ, as

verse 22 says, “the Lord redeems the life of His servants, none of those who take

refuge in Him will be condemned,” and displaying God’s redemptive favor to the

righteous.  Verse 22 is the thrust behind why the psalmist is filled with praise.

Deliverance through prayer produces the fruits of fear of the Lord and ultimately

nearness to God.  Psalm 34 is both a song of praise and an exhortation on how

the righteous should live.

Discussion Questions:
  • Why do you think that David command us to bless the Lord at all times? Why does he command us to do this together?
  • What are the 3 sequences of prayer?
  • What is fear of the Lord?
  • What might a portrait of fear of the Lord look like in your life?
  • Why is there a correlation between fear of the Lord and nearness to God? 
  • Why is there no condemnation for those take refuge in Him?
  • Do you clearly understand the gospel? 
Application Questions:
  • Which team are you on? Righteous or unrighteous (enemy of God)? Articulate from the text several ways that God shows His favor on the righteous. 
  • Is your heart filled with praise at all times? If not, can you identify what is lacking in your prayer life, fear of the Lord, or nearness to God? How can you strengthen what is lacking in these areas?
Prayer:
  • Praise God that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
  • Praise God that Jesus is our intercessor that delivers us through prayer, becoming one of us so that we can enjoy nearness to God, modeling for us what fear of the Lord should look like, perfectly obeying the Fathers will.
  • Ask God to give us a heart that pursues holiness and hatred toward sin.
  • Ask God for courageous, trusting faith and confidence that He will hear and answer us in our time of need.
  • Ask God that we would grow in our fear of the Lord and nearness to God.
Written by Galen Janson