We saw in previous weeks that Psalm 34 is an alphabetic acrostic, and we suggested that perhaps this literary device is intended to signal that the content of this psalm deals with the basics, the most fundamental principles of life. After all, nothing is more basic or fundamental than the alphabet. So what is it in a spiritual sense that is so fundamental, so basic to life that we absolutely must learn? Well, it is the fear of the Lord. As Proverbs 9, 10 tells us, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And thus it is David's purpose in this psalm to teach us about the fear of the Lord. Notice what he explicitly states in verse 11. In verse 11 of the psalm he says, Come ye children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. And so the question is, what is it that David teaches us in this psalm? What does he tell us the fear of the Lord really looks like when it's in a person's life? How will it be manifested in a person's life? Because anybody can claim to be a God-fearing person, but how do we really know if he's a God-fearing person as the Bible would define that term? Well, that's just what David tells us in this psalm. But before we continue our studies in this psalm this morning, would you join me for a brief word of prayer? Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, we do ask for your guidance as we consider this very important teaching from your word. Help us to take it to heart, apply these truths and principles to our own lives. This we ask in Christ's name, amen. Previous couple weeks we observed that David in this psalm really shares with us three key concepts that represent the fear of the Lord, or how it is manifested in a person's life. First of all, manifests in a person's life when he's committed to worship, to worshiping the Lord, both on an individual level, but also corporately in participation with other believers. Thus, people who do not go to church, who do not engage in regular worship with God's people corporately are not God-fearing people. Secondly, a God-fearing individual trusts the Lord, which we mean that such an individual builds his entire life upon Him, that the Lord and the Lord alone is your hope, your refuge, the one in whom you are absolutely and totally depending to see you safely through life. And David expresses this concept in a two-fold way. First, he expresses it negatively, in that he says, we trust him to deliver us from all that is bad. David gives us examples from all the things that we dread and that terrorize us. He also says that he delivers us from all the tight spots in which we find ourselves in life. And he further says, we trust him to deliver us from all the various tragic circumstances of life. And so all the bad things. But then last week we saw that David flips us around and says, but it's also the vice versa, that not only do we trust him to deliver us from all that is bad, but those who truly fear the Lord trust him to bless us with all that is good. And then this psalm, David identifies what he means by good. Three key things. First of all, the Lord himself. To have a relationship with God. Secondly, life. Eternal life. The abundant life. Spoken of by Jesus. And those, of course, are related ideas because to know Jesus is the very essence of life. And finally, in more summary fashion, basically every good thing, everything you need in life. Those who fear the Lord, trust the Lord to provide all that we truly and really need. And thus is David's emphasis upon trusting the Lord. Now all of that's review, but today, as we turn our attention back to the psalm, we will now examine that third and final key aspect of fearing the Lord, and how the fear of the Lord is manifested in a person's life. And quite simply, the fear of the Lord is manifested in our lives when we are committed to living out the values of the Lord. This is a very important point, because there would be many people who would claim to have trusted in the Lord for salvation, and who might be church-going people, and hence they would characterize themselves as God-fearing people, because, hey, I've trusted the Lord, I'm saved, and I go to church. And yet they miss this third key aspect of fearing the Lord, because they're not really committed to living out His values in their lives. See, their lifestyles do not reflect that they're truly living in the fear of the Lord. So then what are some of those core values of the Lord that would be reflected in this person's lifestyle? Well, the first one that David would identify is a commitment to the truth. A commitment to what is true. In this regard, notice what David says in verse 13. If you want to know about the fear of the Lord, how to live in the fear of the Lord, here's what he says in verse 13. Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile. Nothing that is evil, nothing that is wrong, nothing that is deceptive or false or untrue. See, people who fear the Lord are committed to truth. And there are two aspects of this. First of all, we shouldn't be lying to others. As Paul says quite simply in Ephesians 4.25, put away lying and speak every man truth with his neighbor. And you know, the world, for the most part, seems to live by lies. Anymore, especially in our society, in our culture, it seems that people lie as naturally as they breathe. I mean, they'll just tell a bold-faced lie to your face if that's what they think you want to hear or that's what will get them out of a little bit of a tight spot or an uncomfortable situation. They'll just lie and never think a thing of it. I mean, everybody does it, right? But we, as believers, those who fear the Lord, are called to a higher standard. God is a God of truth and He calls us to share His concern for truth and to be honest in our dealings with others. So we should not be lying to others. But the second aspect of this is that we also then should not be lying to ourselves. People who are committed to truth don't play games with the truth, which means that they are brutally honest with themselves. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3.18, let no man deceive himself. But don't people do that a lot? Don't we play games with the truth in our own hearts and lives? Don't we often deceive ourselves? How easy it is for a person simply to lie to himself. And so as you look at the scriptures, for example, the New Testament scriptures, you will find quite commonly the Bible addresses how people, unsaved people, but even saved people, can play loose with the truth, play games with the truth. an attempt to rationalize and justify things in their life that do not accord with the truth. Look at a few examples of this. James chapter 1. Let me remind you of this well-known example from James' epistle. James here is writing to believers who sometimes can have problems with being honest with themselves. How easy it is to deceive ourselves. James chapter 1 and verse 22 then. James 1.22 he says, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Sometimes we can let others deceive us if they're telling us what we want to hear. Sometimes we just flat deceive ourselves. Here's a great way in which we can do it. We can think that we've accomplished something great simply because we've read the scripture without really imbibing its values. We can read the scriptures but without any real commitment to applying its principles to our lives. There's been simple virtue in just reading it, but no transformation in our heart and our life and our values. And he says, look, when you play that kind of game, you have deceived yourself unless you are doer of the word. Or take a look at 1 John 1. 1 John 1. John talks about how people, again, can really deceive themselves, again, when it comes to the issue of sin. The sin and the darkness and the depravity that lies within their own heart. In 1 John 1, verse 8, John says, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. See, and how easy it is to gloss over the sin and the darkness and the depravity that is here. We do not truly see ourselves in the light of God's glory and His holiness and His word. And so we convince ourselves we're not that bad, we're not that dark, we're not that depraved, when actually we are. And so when we engage in this kind of denial, we are deceiving ourselves. Or look at Peter's second epistle. Back up to 2 Peter 3, verses 5-6. 2 Peter 3, verses 5-6. In this case, Peter would be talking about unsaved people, but still it is the phenomenon, really, of self-deception. It just reflects human nature. And so in 2nd Peter chapter 3 verses 5 through 6, Peter says, for this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished. Peter speaks of the phenomenon of the people of the world being willingly ignorant. This is deception that they are choosing. It is ignorance they are choosing. They are turning a blind eye to the truth. There is evidence everywhere that just screams, not to mention the written revelation of God's Word, that just screams about the fact that there was once a global deluge. that there is a God who does judge sin, but they would rather do away with the story of judgment of sin and concoct some other story and try to pretend as though there never was a global flood. But anytime, Peter says, anytime somebody's trying to say, look, there was never a global flood, they are being willingly ignorant. So time and again, you see the Bible talks about this phenomenon of not really coming to this place in our lives where, look, I just want to get to the bottom of this. I just want to know the truth. I want the truth. Let the chips fall where they may. Doesn't matter what the ramifications are. Let's just get to the truth in my own heart, in my own life. Well, how can we ensure that we really are embracing the truth and that our lives are truth-based? Well, of course, that comes only by the Word of God. The Word of God is the source of truth. It is what defines truth for us. In this regard, look at John chapter 17 and verse 17. The Gospel of John chapter 17. You know, John talks a lot about truth and faith, having faith in the truth. I mean, that's what you put your confidence in. That's what you build your life in. So, truth and belief are two, you know, common themes with John. Now, in John chapter 17, he quotes the Lord's statement in the night of the Last Supper. This is actually from the Lord's prayer where he's talking to his Heavenly Father. And his prayer for his followers, for his believers, is this in verse 17, Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. What is it that sanctifies God's people? That is, that sets us apart from the world. A world that is full of lies and deception. A world that doesn't want the truth. A world that wants to believe that truth is whatever I say it is. It is so just because I've said it is so. Or I can create my own truth. I can create my own reality. So we live in a world that's, you know, people are, you know, constantly creating their own fantasy worlds. They're not in touch with reality. They don't like the facts as they really are. What is it that takes us from a culture like that and pulls us out of that culture so that we don't get caught up in that? That we don't find ourselves thinking like the world around us when we're so immersed in this culture. How is that we can be set apart from that? What is it that sanctifies us? It is the truth. The only thing that's going to deliver you from all the deception and the lies and the nonsense of the world is the truth. But where do we find the truth? In the Word. God's Word is the truth that will cut through all the lies and deception. And hence people who fear the Lord are people who are absolutely committed to the Scriptures because they want the truth no matter what and they are convinced that the truth is in this book. If a person is living in the fear of the Lord, he will absolutely be committed to the Word of God. In this regard, notice what Peter writes in his first epistle, 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2, because we find here that Peter will call believers, new young believers, to grow. How are they really going to grow? Well, the Word has got to be foundational in their lives. 1 Peter chapter 2, if sanctification really is going to be taking place, that growth as a believer, as they're set apart from the world and more and more set apart to God, learning to think God, the Word of God is the key to that. For He says in 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 1 through 3, Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all gall, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, if so be ye uptasted that the Lord is gracious. A couple observations from this passage you read here. First of all, looking at verse 1, Peter says, listen, the kind of people who have an appetite, a voracious appetite for the Word of God, just like a newborn baby does for milk, the kind of people who have that kind of appetite are the people who have laid aside, that is, they are done with guile and deception. First of all, if you're going to have an appetite for this scripture, you've got to be absolutely committed in your mind, I just want the truth. I'm done with lies. I'm done with fantasies and fables and creating my own reality. I'm tired of lying to myself. This will be the standard. The written word of God. So, first of all, you've got to actually be clear in your own mind, I'm done with that. I may be fine for other people, but I'm not playing games with my life. I'm not going to lie to myself either. I just want the truth. You have to want the truth. And that's, again, is a characteristic of God-fearing people. The second observation, not only do you have to be done with deception, but what does he tell us in verse 3? He references having tasted that the Lord is gracious. If you're going to have an appetite for the Scriptures, you of course have to be saved. Somebody who indeed has put his trust in the Lord, which is what God-fearing people do. By the way, do you recognize that statement in verse three when he talks about, if so be, you've tasted that the Lord is gracious? Do you recognize that statement? This is a quotation or an allusion from Psalm 34, verse eight. But David's invitation there is, oh, taste and see that the Lord is good or that the Lord is gracious. And so Peter is actually quoting here from Psalm 34. And what is he saying? Well, we talked previously about that word taste. When David says taste, the word taste literally means to experience, not merely a little sample, not a try. In the Bible, tasting means fully experiencing something. So David said, listen, enter to experiential knowledge of the Lord. You have to know the Lord experientially, not knowing things about God, not knowing facts about God. You actually have to know the Lord personally, experientially. And people who fear the Lord are people who put their trust in the Lord and have come to know Him personally, experientially. And so Peter picks up on that and says, you know what? If you have truly tasted the Lord, as David invited you to do in Psalm 34, if you know from experience how good the Lord is, then you'll find that His Word tastes good too. See, if the Lord tastes good, His Word also will taste good to you. You'll be hungry for it. You'll find that it nourishes you and feeds you and satisfies you. Alternatively, if you are bored with the scriptures, if the Bible really doesn't do anything for you, it doesn't really resonate with you, it doesn't feed your soul, it doesn't nourish you, You're really pretty much bored with the whole thing. It's a matter of going through motions or doing what's, you know, respectable. We respect the Bible. I guess you say it's God's Word, okay, but it doesn't really resonate with you. It doesn't feed you. You don't crave it. You realize, of course, that the problem's not with the Bible, that it is objectively boring and lifeless and dead. The problem's not with this book. The problem is with you. You are spiritually dead, and so, of course, you would have no spiritual appetite. And so you see how Peter draws this core value from Psalm 34, and argues that, look, if you are truly saved, as a God-fearing person who's put your trust in the Lord, and has experienced the Lord, if you are truly saved, then the Scriptures will and must play a foundational role in your life. So there's gotta be a commitment to truth. God-fearing people are absolutely committed to truth, and for them, the Bible is that truth. Turning our attention back to Psalm 34, Psalm 34 we move on to a second core value, and that is a commitment to what is right. A commitment to righteousness. Notice in Psalm 34, the first part of verse 14. Psalm 34, the first half of verse 14, he says here, Depart from evil and do good. the call here to lay aside evil and pursue what is good. And indeed, the concept of righteousness is a recurring theme throughout this psalm where David's talking about the fear of the Lord. So jump down, for example, to verse 15. In verse 15, he says, the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous. And yet again, jump down to the verse 19. Verse 19, many are the afflictions of the righteous. And yet again, verse 21, evil shall slay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. See, David keeps talking about the righteous and the psalm. The righteous people are people who fear the Lord. People who fear the Lord, therefore, are committed to what is right. Now, what is righteousness? Well, the term righteousness in the Old Testament basically refers to that which conforms to a standard. It conforms to a standard. For example, if I'm building or constructing something and I want to make sure I've got it nice and straight, I have a tool that will help me accomplish that. I might get a level, for example, and then if the item doesn't measure up according to the level or that bubble smack dab in the middle, then it's not righteous. If the bubble's not in the middle, the item's not righteous. That is, it's not conforming to the standard of what is truly level. Or if I need to make a nice straight cut, I would use a ruler or a straight edge to mark and guide the cut. And if the cut conforms to that standard, that ruler, that straight edge, then the cut has been righteous. We all understand that levels and rulers straight edges. These are very important tools when you're building and constructing things. Why? Because often, if you try simply to eyeball it, it might look good. We've all had that experience. I don't feel like going and getting a tool. That looks good. That looks straight to me. It looks straight. And you think you've got it straight. And then you back way up and you look and you think things are obviously tilting. I've had experience. That looks straight. I think I've got that pretty straight. I'm not going to make it look better. Go ahead and check it. I go and get the level, put the level on it, and the thing's way crooked. It's like, wow, I thought it was straight, but according to the level, it's not even close to straight. You've probably done things where I make that cut, I kind of eyeball it in here, and kind of draw it out along this line. See, I did it. Nice straight cut, and then I go put the thing in. It's like, I veered a half inch or a whole inch. I can't believe, I thought I cut it straight, eyeballing it. Look how much the cut veered, and I didn't even realize it. Until I go to put the piece in and I say, it took time to measure and mark. I thought it was a very long cut. I mean, cut that short, how can I veer? Surely I can eyeball this, right? So those tools are very, very helpful. And when we make things accord to the standard, they're righteous. But if not, if we veer, then unrighteous. And so it is in the moral and spiritual realm. The Bible takes this concept and brings it into the spiritual realm. Righteousness is not merely a commitment to what feels right, or seems right, or looks right. This ought to be a simple concept to understand, but it amazes me how many people take that approach toward life. Is it not so? That they simply try to eyeball righteousness. That looks right. This just looks like the right thing to do. It just feels right. Look, you cannot eyeball righteousness by its very definition. Righteousness is conformity to an objective standard. You have to have the tool, the standard, and then measure against the standard. If you're eyeballing it, by definition, it's not righteousness. So when you go by what looks right or feels right or seems right, by definition, you're not doing right. It is right when it conforms to the standard. And what is that objective standard? In the spiritual realm, in the moral realm, what is that ruler? What is that straight edge? What is the level? It is none other than God Himself. The very character of God is the standard that defines for us what is right. Whatever is right is that which accords with, that which harmonizes with, that which reflects the very character of God. See, God doesn't just arbitrarily decide that certain things are wrong. It's not as if God created the world and said, I think I'll make that wrong. I think I'll declare that this is right. It's not some kind of arbitrary thing God just decided to make some things wrong and make some things right. Rather, such determinations are derived from who and what God inherently is. Righteousness is simply what reflects the very character of God. And because His character is absolute and unchanging, that which is right is absolute and unchanging. Society and its values and its mores may change over time, but right never changes because God never changes. What is right is that which therefore conforms to the character of God. And what David is telling us here, then, is that those who fear the Lord are those who are committed to what is right, meaning they are committed to that which harmonizes with the character of this God whom they claim to fear. Notice how John explains this in a very simple way. First John, chapter 1. First John, chapter 1. Verses 5-7, if you claim to have, again, be someone who fears the Lord, that is, you have put your trust in God, you've entered into a personal relationship with God, you are in fellowship with God, then what should be true of you if you're going to be in fellowship with God? Well, 1 John 1, verses 5-7, chapter 1, verses 5-7 of John's first epistle, he says, This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Pause here. not even a smidgen, not even a little bit, numb, no darkness, period. Continuing verse six, if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanseth us from all sin. God is light. That is His character. That is His nature. Then if you are going to be walking in fellowship with Him, if you claim to be someone who's tasted, you know experientially that He's good, then you must be walking in the light. You tell me that you've tasted the Lord and you know from experience that He's good, you need to be walking in the light. If you're not walking in the light, you're not living in the fear of the Lord, that's for sure. You've missed one of the core values of God. Now, of course, this brings us back again to the question, well, how do we really know the character of God? How do we know what God is like? Who are we to pontificate on what God is and isn't? Well, again, we come back to the scriptures. We don't pontificate, the scriptures do. The scriptures are a revelation of God. A revelation of God himself. Not a revelation about God. It is not merely a book of facts and details about God. It is a revelation of God himself. Therefore, those who read the Scriptures with an open heart and mind do not come merely to know things about God. They actually come to know God. It is a revelation of Him. Now of course, to make matters simple for us, God not only reveals himself to us in the scriptures, he does also in the scriptures spell out the ramifications of his character in our lives. So you come to know God from the Bible, but like I said, just to keep things really simple, God would say, so here's the ramification, this is who I am, this is what I am, this is what light is, and so for all you dummies out there, here's what that means. Do this. Do that. This accords with my character. This does not accord with my character. So in other words, God spells it out by giving us direct commands and expectations. You don't even have to guess. God tells us what his character looks like when it's translated into the context of our day-to-day life in this world. And so observe how Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes. If you look back in the Old Testament, the book of Ecclesiastes, Having talked a lot about what life is like for us in this world, it pretty much sums up what life really should be all about for us. In Ecclesiastes chapter 12, verses 13 through 14, verses 13 through 14, he says here, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. That's a pretty good summary. Fear the Lord. Now notice what he joins in with the concept of fearing the Lord, that is, keeping his commandments. You can be committed to doing what is right, what reflects the character of God. God's commandments. God's commandments are spelling out for us in black and white. what it looks like to live in such a way that accords with God's character. Whole duty of man, a commitment to doing what is right, to keeping His commandments. If you fear God, that's going to be a defining feature of your life. And he wraps up with a final reminder there in verse 14 that when it's all said and done, then there's going to be the great sizing up, the great assessing of your life. And God is going to assess every single thing you've ever done. including all the secret things that nobody else knows about because God knows. Everything. And everything would be put into one of only two categories. There's no middle ground, no third options, only two possibilities. Every single thing you do in life is either good or it's evil. That is, it either accords with and harmonizes with the character of God or it does not. Everything you do in life will be assessed on that basis. Did it reflect the character of God? Did it harmonize with His character? Or was it contrary to the character of God? So those who fear the Lord are committed to keeping His commandments so that we'll know we're on track of reflecting His character. Let's turn our attention back to Psalm 34. We move on to the third Third key value of the Lord, that is a commitment to peace. Again, in Psalm 34, notice the second half of verse 14. The second half of verse 14, he tells us here, seek peace and pursue it. Seek peace and pursue it. Now, as we think about this concept, let me begin with the vital observation about the larger context in which this command to seek peace is found. This is not an isolated, stand-alone command. It is the only one key value embraced by those who fear the Lord. No, it is but one of four key values that David presents us in this psalm. It is part of a package deal Recognizing this, then, we want to avoid two common errors in our lives. One error is to so uphold the concept of peace as if it were the only and sole value of fearing the Lord. Nothing matters more than the pursuit of peace, peace at all costs. And hence, some will go to such extremes to pursue peace with others that they will do so even at the cost of truth and righteousness. The previous two values we've talked about. Truth and doctrine don't matter. What's really important is that we all get along, brother. The most important thing is that we all just get along with one another and that we all just love one another. Let's not get all hung up about truth and doctrines and all that kind of stuff. And so they will exhort peace as if it is the only standard and that truth and righteousness part doesn't count. Of course, you can't cherry pick and pick and choose which of these values you want to espouse and which you won't. It's a package deal. Which leads us, of course, to the other error. The other error is exactly the opposite. It is to undervalue the significance of peace. I think we all have known folks who have a tremendous zeal for what is true, for the truth, and they will take a stand for right. If they have to stand alone and be the only one standing for what is right, they'll stand for what is right. But they do so as if peace with others doesn't really matter. Who cares how it affects others, they ask. I spoke the truth. I stood up and said the truth when nobody else was willing to say it, and if they don't like it, they can lump it. And thus in their zeal for truth and righteousness, they go about it with all the grace of a bull in a china shop. Or as I said recently to my wife, in my typical fashion of mixing my metaphors, with all the grace of a bulldog in a china shop. And she said, no, that's a bull. Bull, bulldogs, both might do a little damage, but I suppose a bull would do worse damage. And so it is. So it is. In their zeal for truth and righteousness, They pretend as if the pursuit of peace doesn't really matter. And once again they cherry-pick. Why brother, I stand for truth and I stand for what is right. But wait a minute, those who fear the Lord also stand for peace. This is a package deal. You can't pick and choose which values of the Lord you'll espouse as a God-fearer. We have to take it all. and see how emphatic David is in this passage. He doesn't simply say, well, you know, we should be okay with peace and we're comfortable with peace. This is not what he said. We are actively to seek peace. He tells us we are to pursue, we are to chase after peace. We are to put effort and energy into peace. We ought to do everything we can to make for peace with people. We pursue it, we chase it. We don't just accept it. We're not just okay with it. We don't tolerate it. We pursue it. We chase it. We try to make it happen. After all, the Lord is a God of peace. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. Peace is a core value for those who fear the Lord. You know, I've often said it's not just what you say, it's how you say it that matters. But it seems sometimes God's people miss that point. They focus only on what they're saying. as if there are no ramifications to the how. Of course, as I've often said as well, you can say just about anything to anybody if you say it the right way. I'm amazed at the things I've gotten away with saying to people before, without getting slugged. But it's all in how you say it. And hence it is, in Ephesians 4.15, Paul says that a key mark of maturity is that we, quote, speak the truth. in love. Immature believers may speak the truth, or they may be seeking love, but it is the mature believer who does both, speaks the truth in love. That is precisely the point that Paul is making in Ephesians 4. He's talking about a hallmark of maturity. A hallmark of maturity is when you have learned to speak the truth in love. In this regard, notice what Peter writes to us in 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3. Remember, all of Peter's first epistle is really dealing with the issue of believers living in the world that is wicked, that has rejected the truth, that has rejected God's people, that persecutes God's people. But in the midst of such a culture, we want to shine the light. We want to be a good testimony for the Lord. And so in terms of being a good witness and a good testimony, notice what Peter says in 1 Peter 3.15. He says, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. He said you should always be ready to defend your faith. People might ask you, well, why do you place your hope in Jesus of Nazareth? Why do you place your hope in this idea that some man rose again from the dead? Why do you place your hope in this idea of a rapture, that Jesus is going to come again? And when people ask you that, you need to be ready to answer them. In fact, you need to be able to actually, the word answer means to defend. You need to be able to defend your beliefs. You need to know not only what you believe, but why you believe it. But how you do so matters as well. That's why he doesn't say that you only need to be ready to defend your Christian beliefs, but it's how you do it as well. In the last part of the verse, he says, this is to be done with meekness and fear. The term I translated as meekness literally means gentleness in a gentle way, with courtesy, not beating people over the head with the truth. We are not called to beat people over the head with the truth. The old designation Bible thumper comes to mind. That the world sometimes thinks of Christians as being Bible thumpers. You're going to thump me over the head with the Bible. Probably is not a good thing. We should gently be confronting them with truth, not beating them over the head with it. And he says it is to be done not only with meekness, but with fear. In the context here, the word translated fear would convey the idea of respect, that we are to treat people with respect. as fellow human beings who, yes, may be unsaved, but are made in the image of God. They are image bearers of God, and they will spend an eternity somewhere, and we ought to care about that. And so, as such, we treat them with respect. So in a gentle, courteous, and respectful way, it is not enough merely to defend the faith. We must defend it in such a way, in such a way that makes for peace. Notice, in fact, how often the Bible demands that we who fear the Lord live in ways that don't create strife with others, and all it does is just stir them up and get them angry. If that's the response you're getting, you're missing the point, because the Bible says, don't just be stirring people up. And by the way, like I said, I can't believe how often I see that. I may have told you about the time when I had a secular job, I saw a group of my co-workers all working their way toward me, a whole group of them, and they were walking my direction. Their eyes were fixed on me, and I couldn't tell what they were talking about, but boy, it was obvious that they were all upset. They were worked up. They were angry. And they all came to me, and it turned out there was another fellow that was a Christian that worked this job, and he was trying to witness to them. All he managed to do was get them angry and upset. They came to me. They said, we're all going to hell. Is that true? That's the question they wanted me to answer. He says, we're all going to hell. What do you say? What does the Bible say? All he did was get them angry. So I answered their question. And I told them, basically, yeah, y'all are going to hell. In a way that none of them were mad. It totally brought the temperature down. They all settled down. Yeah, that makes sense. Well, yeah, I guess I'd rather really be thinking about my standing with God. So I told them the same thing. I couldn't lie. They were all unsaved. They were all on the way to hell. And I told them that. But I told them that in a way that diffused the anger and still brought conviction to the heart. And so it is, the Bible is calling us not just to go around stirring up strife. In Hebrews 12, 14, the command is, follow peace with all men. Again, an allusion to Psalm 34. The author of Hebrews is saying, follow peace, chase peace, pursue peace with all people, not just fellow believers, with all people. Likewise, look what Paul writes in Romans chapter 14 and verse 19. Romans chapter 14 and verse 19. Romans chapter 14, verse 19. He says in Romans 14, 19, let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify one another. A point of clarification here. Of course, we are not again calling for peace at the expense of truth. Nor are we saying that if there is no peace, it must be your fault. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, if the other party doesn't want peace, there's nothing you can do about that. Sometimes the truth hurts and makes people angry and there's nothing you can do about that. And that is why, if you'll notice what Paul writes in Romans chapter 12, verse 18, it is why he words it as he does in Romans chapter 12, verse 18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Again, Paul calls this to peace, but here he says, if it be possible, recognizing that unfortunately it's not always possible. But those who fear the Lord pursue it. It's a key value. And finally, turning attention back to Psalm 34, there is a fourth key element, a fourth key value that David talks about, and it is humility. Humility. Now that point comes not from the same stanza of the psalm as the previous three we've been looking at, but rather it's derived from the broader emphasis of the psalm as a whole. But turning attention back to Psalm 34, You find that really the concept of humility prevails throughout the psalm, because again, it's a key value that's a part of fearing the Lord. So for example, we are first introduced to the concept of humility in the second verse of the psalm. Look at Psalm 34, verse two. David says, my soul shall make her boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear thereof and be glad. How does he characterize those who hear his praise of the Lord, and boy, when they see the Lord being magnified, boy, that just does their own heart good, and they've gone to a prowling verse, they want to join in, in corporate praise and worship of the God. He characterizes them as the humble. Because you see, those who fear the Lord, for them, humility is a key virtue and value. Likewise, if you look at verse six, coming down to verse six, David says, this poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. David characterizes himself as this poor man. The term here translated as poor is actually in the Hebrew the exact same word that was translated as humble back in verse two. But as you can see, it can also be translated as poor. Why? Well, because there really is, especially in biblical culture and terminology, there is an overlap between the two concepts. See, a person can be humble in one of two ways. He might be humble in his circumstances. Meaning he doesn't enjoy a life of wealth, power, prestige. He's kind of barely getting by and we might say such a person is poor. Or he may be humble in his spirit. In which case we'd say he is not proud. But the two concepts of being humble in your circumstances or humble in your spirit, those are related. Often a person of wealth and resources in this world is very proud because he has a sense of self-sufficiency. Indeed, in Jewish culture, a man would attribute his wealth to the blessing of God. If a man enjoyed a life of wealth and ease and prosperity, he took this to mean that he surely must be a good man who has been blessed of God and is not therefore spiritually needy. When the truth of the matter is, that poor guy was actually unsaved. That is why Jesus proclaimed, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven. They can't see that they are spiritually needy. They think they're good. But poor people are used to living needy lives. And they more easily transfer that to the spiritual realm. They more easily accept the reality that they're equally needy in a spiritual sense. Now, I'm speaking here, of course, in general terms, not as an absolute principle, and within the ancient Jewish culture and mindset and how they tended to view life. Thus it is, though, that in the Sermon on the Mount, again, Jesus pronounces a blessing not upon those who are humble, but rather upon those who are poor. Blessed, he said, are the poor. in spirit. He was certainly poor in a material sense, but he means this primarily in a spiritual sense. Spiritually, David recognized his own spiritual poverty and that's precisely why he looked to the Lord for deliverance rather than his own strength, his own power, his own resources, his talents and gifts as a tremendous warrior or any kind of self-improvement. David didn't look to his own giftedness and intelligence and savvy to deliver himself. He looked to the Lord. because spiritually he considered himself impoverished. This principle becomes even more clear if you jump down to verse 18 in the psalm. Verse 18, we come back again to this concept, for in verse 18 he says, the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and save as such as be of a contrite spirit. See, the people of a broken heart, people with a contrite spirit, these are the people who are truly blessed by God. These are the people who know the blessedness of trusting in the Lord, as David says in verse 8. In other words, truly humble people are the ones who fear the Lord. Or we could say vice versa. Those who fear the Lord are truly humble. Indeed, humility is of core value for them. Which leads to a final observation I'd like to make this morning, that these four principles that David draws out of the text, the commitment to what is true, what is right, and to peace and to humility, those four principles, this is not some random list that is representative of many values that David could have listed. No, David deliberately chooses in this psalm to emphasize these four principles because they really are vital, absolutely vital to living out God's values in this world as a God-fearing person. They are at the heart, at the heart of what it means to live a God-fearing life. They are the keys to living a life for the glory of God and for being a good testimony for God before a lost world. And so again, in this regard, notice how Peter in his first epistle once again quotes from this very psalm in teaching believers how to be effective witnesses for God in this world. Look at 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3. We observed earlier that in the second chapter he quotes from this psalm. Now in the third chapter, Peter once again will draw from this psalm and David's list. The context again, remember Peter is talking about the kind of world in which we live with a bunch of unsaved people, lost people, they may be antagonistic to the gospel, to the truth, to the Bible, and to all that you are and all that you stand for. How do you live and be a good testimony for those kinds of people? How do you show them and live a God-fearing life in the midst of this world? So this is what Peter writes in 1 Peter 3, verses 8 and following. 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 contrarywise blessing, knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. Now verse 10 is where his quotation begins. In other words, he says, it's like David said in the Psalms in verse 10 and following. For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you if you be followers of that which is good? But, and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you, a reason of the hope that is in you. with meekness and fear, having a good conscience that, whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well-doing than for evil doing. And you see it in here as Peter talks about how can you be a good testimony before the lost world. At the heart of this passage verses 10 through 12 he quotes directly Psalm 34 verses 12 through 16. He says that's it. Boy, I mean nothing summarizes it better than that. Those four key values. And so in conclusion this morning, we've seen from Psalm 34 that the fear of the Lord involves, first of all, worshiping the Lord, both individually and corporately. Secondly, it involves trusting the Lord. We trust him to save us from all that is bad, and we trust him to bless us with all that is good. Thirdly, it means living out his values in this world, and primary among those are a commitment to what is true, a commitment to what is right, pursuing peaceful relationships with others, and humility. I'd like to conclude this morning, again, by reviewing the psalm as a whole, put it all together, but this time, again, with my own translation, and I highlight some of the things we've talked about these three weeks. David says, I will bless Jehovah at all times. His praise will be in my mouth continually. My soul boasts in Jehovah. The humble will hear and be glad. Magnify Jehovah with me. Let us exalt his name together. I saw Jehovah, and he answered me, and from all that I dread he freed me. They looked to him and were radiant, and their faces will never blush with shame. This humble man called, and Jehovah heard him, and from all his tight spots he delivered him. The angel of Jehovah encamps around those who fear him and rescues them. taste, and see that Jehovah is good. Blessed is the real man who takes refuge in him. Fear Jehovah, his saints, for there is nothing lacking for those who fear him. The young lions are deprived and go hungry, but those who seek Jehovah do not lack any good thing. Come, sons, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. Who is the man whose desire is life, who covets many days that he may see good? Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn from evil and do good. Look for peace and pursue it. The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous, and his ears are toward their cry for help. The face of Jehovah is against those who do evil to cut off their remembrance from the earth. The righteous call out and Jehovah hears and from all their tight spots he frees them. Jehovah is near to those who are broken in heart and he delivers those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but from them all Jehovah frees them. He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken. Evil shall kill the wicked, and those who ate the righteous shall be condemned. But Jehovah redeems the life of his servants, and not one of them who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Now let us pray. Our Father, we thank you for the opportunity that we've had to consider your word this morning and be reminded of what should be the key values in our life that we pursue. And if we claim to be God-fearing people, help us to recognize that these are standards. This is how we can gauge and measure whether indeed we are living in the fear of the Lord. And help us to do so that we might know the blessedness of living a life of wisdom and in the fear of the Lord. And this we ask in Christ's name. Amen.