This Poor Man

6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:6-8

We had a special time of fellowship last time we met as we shared the personal testimonies of our conversions. As I thought back concerning my own salvation, I realized that this passage in Psa 34 identifies key areas of progression as God brings a soul to himself. The words of the psalmist echo the cry of my heart. I rejoice now to be able to declare with the him that, “this poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him”!

V. 6 describes the state of all who come to Christ in saving faith. These individuals recognize their poorness. Being raised in church, I learned a lot of Scripture early in my life, but this knowledge alone was a dangerous thing! 1Co 8:1 states that “knowledge puffs up”, and the more I learned, the more pride filled my heart. I was self-deceived, thinking all was okay between me and God. After all, I knew His word and lived a moral life. I was a pretty good guy, right? I think of the rich young ruler’s foolish statement regarding God’s law: “All these things I have kept from my youth.” (Mat 19:20) The truth was that I was lost and could never come to Christ in such a high-minded state. I needed to know I was a “poor man”.

This realization came later in my life when after high school I walked away from the truth I had been taught to pursue a career in music. I headed down paths I knew to be wrong! I hope this point will encourage you parents who are striving to teach your kids the word of God. Though I had improperly used my knowledge of the truth to feed my pride, the Scripture never left me! God’s word was unyielding, and all I could do to ease my conscience was push it out of my mind with worldly distractions. I immersed myself in music and left home to pursue the limelight, but what I didn’t realize was that the good Shepherd was pursuing me!

I remember when I became aware of my bankruptcy. In an instant I understood who I was and who God was. Our text says in v. 7 that deliverance is reserved for “those who fear Him”. The reality of hell came crushing down on me, and the lie in my heart was finally dispelled. I knew that if I died at that moment, I would live in eternal agony separated from the mercy of God forever! There are those today who would reject any need for the fear of God. They must be reading a different Bible than mine! The word of God says clearly that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. (Psa 111:10, Pro 9:10) In fact, David thought the fear of God to be so important that he stressed it again in our psalm in v. 9: “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” It was fear that brought me to my knees before this righteous God. I had once been the Pharisee thinking I was holier than the people around me, but now I was like the publican begging God to have mercy on me a sinner! (Mat 18:10-14)

I had nothing to offer God. I had no righteousness of my own in which to trust for “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isa 64:6), but God encouraged me in His word to, “Look to Me, and be saved…for I am God, and there is no other”. (Isa 45:22) Thank God for v. 8 of our text: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” There is a Savior for those who know themselves to be poor sinners, who come before Him fearing and trembling, and who trust, not in themselves, but in Christ alone for their salvation. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Joh 1:29)

Jamie