Daily Bible Nugget #924, Psalm 34:9

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:9  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. (KJV)

Psa 34:9  It is for you, his chosen servants, to fear the Lord; those who fear him never go wanting. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:9  Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:9  Fear the LORD, you chosen people of his, for those who fear him lack nothing! (NET Bible)

Psa 34:9 Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:9  Oh, fear Jehovah, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no lack! (UASV, Updated American Standard Version)

Psa 34:9 O fear Jehovah, His holy ones; for there is nothing lacking to those who fear Him. (MKJV, Modern King James Version)

Psa 34:9 Revere Yahweh, ye his holy ones, For there is no want to them who revere him. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:9  Honor the LORD, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:9 Keep yourselves in the fear of the Lord, all you his saints; for those who do so will have no need of anything. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:9  Fear the LORD, you holy people who belong to him. Those who fear him are never in need. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:9  Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. (NLT, New Living Translation)

Psa 34:9  The LORD’S holy people should fear and respect him. Those who respect him will always have what they need. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:9 Honor the LORD! You are his special people. No one who honors the LORD will ever be in need. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Careful Bible readers ought to be struck immediately by the fact that “No one who honors the LORD will ever be in need” is a Bible statement that is contrary to actual experience. Commentary writer Albert Barnes wisely remarks:

All their needs will be abundantly supplied. Sooner or later all their real necessities will be met, and God will bestow upon them every needed blessing. The statement here cannot be regarded as absolutely and universally true – that is, it cannot mean that they who fear the Lord will never, in any instance, be hungry or thirsty, or destitute of raiment or of a comfortable home; but it is evidently intended to be a general affirmation, and is in accordance with the other statements which occur in the Bible about the advantages of true religion in securing temporal as well as spiritual blessings from God. Thus, in 1Ti 4:8, it is said, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” Thus, in Isa 33:16, it is said of the righteous man, “Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”

To dig deeper into what the rest of the Bible has to say on the matters mentioned in Psalm 34:9, read and study the following cross references newly expanded beyond what I placed in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 34:9
fear. Psa 5:7; Psa 19:9; Psa 22:23; *Psa 31:23; Psa 89:7, Gen 22:12, Deut 10:12, Pro 1:7; Pro 9:10; Pro 11:24; Pro 22:4, Isa 8:13, 14, Hos 3:5, *Heb 12:28; *Heb 12:29, 1Pe 1:17, 18, 19, Rev 15:3, 4.

ye his saints. Qedoshayv: Psa 16:3. Exo 3:5, Isa 40:31, Rev 5:8; *Rev 11:18.

no want. T752 (Temporal blessings in general). Psa 34:10; *Psa 23:1; *Psa 23:5; Psa 37:3; Psa 37:19; +Psa 84:11; Psa 91:7; Psa 145:19, *Deut 15:8, 1Sa 30:19, 1Ki 17:6, Job 5:20, Pro 10:3; Pro 11:24, Song 7:2, *Isa 58:11, *Jer 37:21, Mat 6:31; **Mat 6:33, Mar 12:43, Luk 12:28; Luk 12:30, 31, 32; Luk 21:3; Luk 22:35, Act 4:34, *Rom 8:32, 1Co 3:22, 23, *Php 4:19, 1Ti 6:6; 1Ti 6:17.

that fear. Psa 33:18; Psa 103:11; Psa 111:5; Psa 115:11; Psa 135:20, Pro 19:23, Ac 9:31, 1Pe 2:17, *Rev 11:18; Rev 15:4.

 

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Judge nothing before the time

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Jerry

 

I just read and replied to a Roman Catholic’s chagrin over the matter that he was often judged not to be a genuine Christian by some others who claimed he must be baptized as an adult believer in order to be genuinely saved.

Here is my reply:

I feel your pain! I have personally been ostracized by individuals and even some pastors and their churches.

Perhaps I am rejected and ejected from their “fellowship” because I know some things in the Bible they firmly believe I am not supposed to know. They consider what I know to be poison and they don’t want others in their congregation to be infected by my spiritual disease.

They are unwilling to examine the Scriptures carefully with me to see if what I or they believe is actually what the Bible itself teaches.

This is a sociological “thing,” the difference, in part, between “village churches” and “camp churches.” To become an actual part of a “village” church you must be born into that congregation, not someone who comes in as an adult who happens to have recently moved into the local community.

To be accepted in a “camp” church, one needs only to share in a spiritual relationship and be excited to grow in your knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

As for those who deny the validity of your personal salvation because you were not baptized by immersion as an adult believer who has made a confession of faith, such individuals and churches need to get back into their Bibles themselves and prove whether such belief and practice is justified by what is stated in the Bible text.

I have made such a study, in depth, and though I have found the correct interpretation, I do not impose it on other churches or believers who do not share my view.

Forgive me for being amused when I drive by a church sign that reads “Berean Baptist Church.” You cannot truly be a Berean (Acts 17:10, 11) if you have not carefully “searched the Scriptures” (John 5:39) and “proved all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Paul warns us to “judge nothing before the time” (1 Corinthians 4:5). No one but our Lord Jesus Christ can be the judge of who is saved and who is not.

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself did instruct us that “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16, 20; see also Galatians 5:22, 23).

Anyone claiming to be a Christian has no business making such a judgment of another on the basis of whether they are a Roman Catholic or a Protestant or like me, a claimant to be neither one. I am a Bible believing, Bible studying Christian. To my knowledge, I have never urged a Roman Catholic friend, student, fellow employee, or on-line contact to switch to another church or denomination. It would be better for Roman Catholics and others to do the same.

I trust the Holy Spirit working in the life of each individual to lead them to where He wants them to be as they continue to grow in their knowledge of God and His written word, the Bible.

Our business must be to obey the command to “Receive one another” (Romans 15:7).

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Daily Bible Nugget #923, Psalm 34:8

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (KJV)

Psa 34:8  How gracious the Lord is! Taste and prove it; blessed is the man that learns to trust in him. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:8  Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who hopes in him. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:8 Taste and see that Jehovah is good; blessed is the man seeking refuge in Him. (LITV, Literal translation of the Holy Bible)

Psa 34:8  Find out for yourself how good the LORD is. Happy are those who find safety with him. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:8 By experience you will see that the Lord is good; happy is the man who has faith in him. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:8  Give the LORD a chance to show you how good he is. Great blessings belong to those who depend on him!  (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:8 Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

A careful study of Psalm 34:8 by means of the cross references given below which are taken and expanded from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury should teach anyone who seriously reads what I write here much about Bible doctrine and apologetics. Don’t let that strange big word “apologetics” scare you away. There are many truths taught in the Bible that many Sunday school teachers and church pastors do not cover in their teaching and preaching. But they are most important to learn if we are to obey Jude 1:3 and 1 Peter 3:15.

In terms of theology, this verse (Psalm 34:8) teaches us that God is good. Goodness is one of the attributes of God. An attribute is a description of His character.

In terms of experience, we are invited to experience God. We get to know God better as we read and study His written word in the Bible.

In terms of apologetics, Psalm 34:8 is quoted by Peter and applied to our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, therefore, in 1 Peter 2:3, applies the name Jehovah used here in Psalm 34:8 to Jesus. The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower society make much of the name of God, Jehovah. When the New Testament quotes an Old Testament statement that in Hebrew contains the name Jehovah, their New World Translation faithfully represents that name in their New Testament translation every time that happens, EXCEPT at 1 Peter 2:3. They avoid using the name Jehovah at 1 Peter 2:3 most likely because that would be contrary to their doctrine that Jesus is not divine. They deny the doctrine of the Deity of Christ. They deny the doctrine of the Trinity. They deny the doctrine of the personality or personhood of the Holy Spirit and teach the holy spirit is the non-personal power of God. In both The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury I have discussed this at length. I have included a list at 1 Peter 2:3 of 19 passages in the New Testament which apply to Jesus what is said of Jehovah in the Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures. Therefore, on these matters, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their New World Translation of the Bible are clearly proven wrong.

Psalms 34:8
taste. “Spiritual experience must precede spiritual knowledge” (St. Bernard, cited by Delitzsch, cited by Kay). Psa 23:5; Psa 63:5; Psa 66:16; +*Psa 119:103, 1Sa 14:24; 1Sa 14:29, 2Sa 17:29, Job 12:11, *Song 2:3; Song 5:1, Eze 34:14, John 1:38, 39; John 1:46, *Rom 12:2, Heb 5:13, 14; *Heb 6:4; *Heb 6:5, *1Pe 2:2; +>1Pe 2:3 note. *1Jn 1:1, 2, 3.

see. FS171J15, +Gen 42:1. Verbs expressing the operation of one sense are in Hebrew often put for those of another: here, taste and see. 1Sa 14:29.

the Lord is good. Psa 36:7; Psa 36:10; Psa 52:1; Psa 68:10; Psa 73:1; *Psa 86:5; Psa 107:1; +*Psa 119:68, Psa 136:1; Psa 145:7; +**Psa 145:9, +*Exo 34:6, Num 10:29, *Jer 31:14, *Zec 9:17, +Luk 6:35, **1Co 2:8; **1Co 12:3, Eph 4:8, *1Jn 4:7, 8, 9, 10.

blessed. FS43, +Deut 28:3. +*Psa 1:1; Psa 2:12, Psa 40:4, Deut 33:29, +*Isa 30:18, +Mat 5:3, Jam 1:12.

the man. Heb Geber. +Gen 6:4 (mighty men), Eph 1:18.

that trusteth. *Psa 2:12; Psa 25:2; Psa 26:1; Psa 32:10; Psa 40:4; *Ps 56:4; *Psa 84:12, Pro 16:20, +Isa 26:3, Jer 17:7, Dan 3:28, 2Co 1:9, Jam 1:19, Rev 22:17.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #922, Psalm 34:7

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (KJV)

Psa 34:7 Guardian of those who fear the Lord, his angel encamps at their side, and brings deliverance. (Knox Translation)

Psa 34:7  The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear him, and will deliver them. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:7 (34:8) The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:7 The LORD’s angel camps around
the LORD’s loyal followers and delivers them. (NET Bible)

Psa 34:7 The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Psa 34:7 The angel of the Lord is ever watching over those who have fear of him, to keep them safe. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:7  His angel guards those who honor the LORD and rescues them from danger.  (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:7  The Messenger of the LORD camps around those who fear him, and he rescues them. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:7  The LORD’S angel builds a camp around his followers, and he protects them. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:7 If you honor the LORD, his angel will protect you. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I sometimes wonder how often God has protected each of us from danger that we did not see? I believe I was protected on Thursday, March 13, 1986, when I was shot in the back of my head by an unknown assailant as I walked across the back teacher parking lot at Southeastern High School. There may well be many things going on in terms of what may be called “spiritual warfare” that are unseen by us. Prayer is one of the “weapons” of our spiritual warfare, as is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God which we have in our Bible.

To dig deeper into these themes mentioned in Psalm 34:7, read and study the following cross references taken from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 34:7
The angel of the Lord. Psa 35:5; *Psa 91:11; *Psa 91:12, +*Gen 22:15 note. Gen 24:7; Gen 48:16, 1Ki 19:5, 2Ki 19:35, *Dan 6:22, *Mat 18:10, *Luk 16:22, Act 5:19; Act 12:7; Act 12:11, *Heb 1:14.

encampeth. Psa 125:2, *Gen 32:1; *Gen 32:2, Exo 14:19, 20, 2Sa 17:24; 2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:32, *2Ki 6:17, 2Ch 18:31, *Job 1:10, Pro 14:26, Zec 9:8.

that fear him. +Deut 6:2, +Pro 3:7; Pro 14:26, +Ecc 12:13.

delivereth. Psa 7:4; Psa 18:19; *Psa 50:15; Psa 81:7; Psa 91:15, 2Sa 4:9; 2Sa 22:20, Job 36:15, *Isa 63:9, Dan 3:25; Dan 3:28, Mat 4:6, *Act 12:7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
or, armeth. Jos 4:13 mg. Jos 6:7; Jos 6:9; Jos 6:13, 1Ch 12:23, 24 mg.

 

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Why Genesis 2:3 is NOT about the Seventh Day Sabbath

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Jerry

 

Genesis 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Many mistaken interpreters assert that Genesis 2:3 is the first mention of the Sabbath in the Bible.

However, the reference is to rest, not the Sabbath.

Genesis 2:3 speaks of God resting from the work of the days of creation, meaning He finished that work.

Man did not rest on that day. God is the One who rested or ceased from His work of Creation.

If man had rested on that day, he would not have worked six days and rested on the seventh day!

The Hebrew word for Sabbath does not appear anywhere in the text of Genesis.

The record given in Genesis 2:3 does not establish the Sabbath for man. There is absolutely no evidence in the pages of Genesis that the Sabbath involving a recurring weekly time of rest on the seventh day was ever practiced by the Patriarchs.

The Sabbath was instituted at the giving of the manna in Exodus 16:23-31,

Exo 16:23  And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
Exo 16:24  And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
Exo 16:25  And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.
Exo 16:26  Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
Exo 16:27  And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
Exo 16:28  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
Exo 16:29  See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
Exo 16:30  So the people rested on the seventh day.
Exo 16:31  And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

The statement in Deuteronomy 5:3 introducing the Ten Commandments explicitly states that “The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us.”

Therefore, Scripture itself declares the Sabbath Commandment was utterly unknown to prior generations. The rest of Scripture confirms this.

Deut 5:3  The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

but with us. This is a most clear statement that the Law was given first on this occasion at Mount Horeb to Moses, and never given at a prior time, including the Sabbath commandment, an affirmation confirmed by the combined witness of the following Parallel Passages. +*Deut 5:2, %+*Gen 26:5, **Neh 9:13; **Neh 9:14, *Jer 11:4; Jer 34:13, **Ezk 20:9, 10, 11, 12; **Ezk 20:20, **Mal 4:4, **Rom 5:13; **Rom 5:14.

Nehemiah 9:12  Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
Neh 9:13  Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
Neh 9:14  And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
Neh 9:15  And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #921, Psalm 34:6

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:6  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (KJV)

Psa 34:6  Friendless folk may still call upon the Lord and gain his ear, and be rescued from all their afflictions. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:6 This poor one called, and Jehovah heard, And from all his distresses saved him. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:6  This poor man cried, and the Lord hearkened to him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:6  The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:6 This afflicted one called, and Jehovah heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (Darby translation)

Psa 34:6  Here is a poor man who called out. The LORD heard him and saved him from all his troubles. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:6 This poor man’s cry came before the Lord, and he gave him salvation from all his troubles. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:6  As a poor, helpless man I prayed to the LORD, and he heard me. He saved me from all my troubles. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:6 I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the LORD saved me from all my troubles. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

David experienced remarkable deliverance from a difficult situation. He prayed, and the LORD saved him from all his troubles. From time to time God still delivers us from difficult situations in answer to our prayers, and the prayers of others for us. This may not be a daily experience, but looking back over many years I can see how this has been my experience at crucial turning points that were unseen at the time but obvious now.

To dig deeper into the subjects or themes mentioned in Psalm 34:6, read and study the cross references given below now more complete than they were in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 34:6
This poor man. Psa 10:17; +**Psa 40:17; +Psa 69:29 note. Psa 86:1; Psa 107:6; Psa 140:12, Exo 14:15. +Pro 14:21.

cried. +Psa 3:4; Psa 9:12; +*Psa 27:7; Psa 30:8; Psa 50:15; Psa 66:16, 17, 18, 19, 20; Psa 72:12; Psa 77:1; Psa 86:7; Psa 107:19; Psa 116:4; Psa 138:3, +**Exo 22:23; +**Exo 22:24, Jdg 15:19 note. 2Sa 22:4; 2Sa 22:7, 2Ch 14:11; 2Ch 20:4, Jon 2:2, **Php 4:6.

the Lord heard. Psa 34:15, Psa 10:17, Psa 18:6, Psa 22:24, Psa 40:10, Psa 66:19, Psa 69:33, Psa 77:1, +**Psa 99:6, Psa 102:17, Psa 138:3, Gen 24:21, +*Exo 3:7; +*Exo 22:27, 2Sa 22:7, *Isa 38:5; Isa 41:17, Lam 3:56, +*Dan 10:12, *Jon 2:2, Mic 7:7, 1Pe 3:12, +*1Jn 5:14.

saved. Psa 34:17, 18, 19, Psa 18:27; Psa 35:10; Psa 72:12; Psa 107:19, Gen 48:16, 1Sa 21:13, 14, 2Sa 22:1; 2Sa 22:4, +*Job 5:15, Jer 20:13, Rev 7:14, 15, 16, 17.

out of all his troubles. Psa 34:17, Psa 23:5; Psa 25:17; Psa 40:3; Psa 54:7; Psa 86:5; Psa 107:6; Psa 107:13; Psa 107:19; Psa 107:28, Gen 32:9, 1Sa 30:6, *2Sa 4:9, +*2Co 1:4.

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #920, Psalm 34:5

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:5  They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (KJV)

Psa 34:5  Ever look to him, and in him find happiness; here is no room for downcast looks. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:5 They looked expectingly unto Him, And they became bright, And their faces are not ashamed. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:5 They looked unto him and were radiant, And, as for their faces, let them not be abashed. (EB, Emphasized Bible)

Psa 34:5  Draw near to him, and be enlightened: and your faces shall not by any means be ashamed. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:5 (34:6) Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

Psa 34:5 They looked to Him and were filled with light; and their faces were not ashamed. (LITV, Literal translation of the Holy Bible)

Psa 34:5  The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:5 Let your eyes be turned to him and you will have light, and your faces will not be shamed. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:5  All who look to him will be radiant. Their faces will never be covered with shame. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:5  If you look to him for help, he will put a smile on your face. You will have no need to be ashamed. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:5 Keep your eyes on the LORD! You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

The twelve English Bible translations or versions shared above each contribute to a fuller understanding of the meanings of the original Hebrew text as well as the Greek and Latin translations of Psalm 34:5. As I read each translation, I see connections with other passages of Scripture not evident to me before that need to be linked in the cross references for Psalm 34:5, now newly expanded to supplement those I already furnished in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

Psalms 34:5
They looked. or, Look! or, looked expectantly. or, Draw near. Psa 67:1; %Psa 73:3; Psa 121:1; Psa 123:1, 2, Exo 18:15, *Num 21:9, 2Ch 20:4, Job 6:19, 20, *Isa 45:22, *Mic 7:7, Zec 12:10, +*Luk 21:28, John 1:29; *John 3:14, *Php 4:6, **Heb 12:2, **Jas 4:7, 8. *1Pe 5:7.

and were. Psa 13:3; Psa 18:28; +*Psa 19:8; Psa 27:1; Psa 97:11, 1Sa 1:18, Est 8:16, Job 33:30, *Isa 38:5, Mic 7:8, 9, *John 8:12, *1Pe 2:9.

lightened. or, flowed unto him. The Hebrew word nahar sometimes means “to flow, to flow together,” as in Isa 2:2, Jer 31:12; Jer 51:44; but it also means “to shine, to be bright;” and thence, “to be cheered, to rejoice,” Isa 60:5. This is probably the idea here, for this interpretation is better suited to the connection in which the word occurs (Barnes Notes).  *Ezr 9:8, *Isa 49:10; +*Isa 60:5, +*2Co 3:18.

their faces. Psa 25:2, 3; Psa 83:16, 2Sa 19:5, *John 8:12, *Rom 5:1.

not ashamed. Psa 22:5; Psa 31:17, %Job 6:20, **John 5:24, **Rom 8:1; *Rom 9:33, **1Pe 2:6, **1Jo 2:28.

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Daily Bible Nugget #919, Psalm 34:4

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:4  I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (KJV)

Psa 34:4 Did I not look to the Lord, and find a hearing; did he not deliver me from all my terrors? (Knox translation)

Psa 34:4 I sought Jehovah, and He answered me, And from all my fears did deliver me. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:4  I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:4  I went to the LORD for help. He answered me and rescued me from all my fears. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:4 I was searching for the Lord, and he gave ear to my voice, and made me free from all my fears. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:4  I sought the Lord diligently, and he hearkened to me, and delivered me from all my sojournings. (LXX., Brenton translation)

Psa 34:4  I went to the LORD for help, and he listened. He saved me from all that I fear. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:4 I asked the LORD for help, and he saved me from all my fears. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Scripture must be understood in its historical context. Sometimes this means that a promise or experience related in the Bible may not always apply to us. Nevertheless, the Bible was written “for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, ASV). The ERV (Easy to Read Version) reads: “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those things were written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us.”

There is a factor I have rarely seen addressed called “The Silence of God.” Sir Robert Anderson more than a century ago wrote a book with that title. I have included notes and cross references on that subject in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury (see the notes at Psalm 50:3, Isaiah 8:17, and Isaiah 61:2). The factor of the silence of God can be very disturbing when we learn about it. It shows that many of our hymns and Gospel songs do not actually express the truth as we normally experience it ourselves. I may have a book with the title, Remarkable Answers to Prayer. But that is the point: such answers are remarkable because they are rare.

It may be that the great promises Jesus gave to His disciples (see +**Matthew 17:20, the cross references given for the keyword faith) were fully valid for that time while the promise (%Matthew 21:43. Acts 3:19, 20, 21) was proclaimed by the original Apostles. Miracles still do happen today in our time in answer to prayer, but experience bears out that such answers do not always take place. Even in the Bible miracles took place much less often across the historical time span it covers: they took place under Elijah and Elisha, and of course during the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, and are also recorded in the book of Acts under the ministry of Peter and Paul.

Despite all these cautionary factors, don’t miss out on the encouraging themes present in the newly expanded cross references for Psalm 34:4 as given below, expanded beyond what is currently in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 34:4
sought. +**Psa 9:10 note. Psa 18:6; *Psa 22:24; Psa 31:22; Psa 63:1; Psa 66:17; *Psa 77:1; Psa 77:2; Psa 116:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; +*Psa 119:10; *Psa 119:94, Gen 32:9, 1Sa 30:6, +*1Ch 16:11 note. *2Ch 20:3, Ezr 6:21, Job 5:8, *Isa 26:9, Jon 2:2, *Mat 7:7, +*Luk 11:9, *2Co 12:8; *2Co 12:9, *Heb 5:7 **Heb 11:6, Rev 8:3.

he heard. Psa 3:4; **Psa 4:3; Psa 18:6; Psa 22:24; +*Psa 27:7 (T1434). Psa 31:22; Psa 86:7; +**Psa 99:6; Psa 116:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Psa 138:3, +*Exo 3:7, Pro 10:24, +*Dan 10:12, Jon 2:2, *Heb 5:7, +*1Jn 3:22.

delivered. Psa 34:17; Psa 34:19, Psa 4:8; Psa 18:2; Psa 30:1; Psa 32:6; Psa 41:1; *Psa 50:15; Psa 64:1; Psa 91:15; *Psa 103:14; Psa 107:19; Psa 119:153, Gen 33:4; Gen 48:16, Exo 18:4, +*1Co 10:13, 2Co 7:6, 2Ti 3:11.

me. +**Psa 40:17.

from. Psa 27:1, 2; Psa 46:2; *Psa 56:3; +Psa 118:6; +*Psa 119:82; Psa 119:117, %+Gen 19:30, 1Sa 27:1, +2Ch 20:3 (T1336). +*Job 3:25, +**Pro 22:3, Song 3:8, +*Isa 8:12; +*Isa 12:2 (T814). Isa 66:4, +*Jer 10:5; Jer 41:18, Zep 3:13, Mat 8:26; Mat 14:27, Mrk 4:40, Luk 1:74; Luk 8:25; +*Luk 12:4; +*Luk 12:7, John 14:27, Rom 8:31; Rom 12:21; +*Rom 15:4, *2Co 7:5; *2Co 7:6, Php 1:20, +**2Ti 1:7, 1Jn 3:21, Rev 2:10.

my fears. Psa 23:4; +Psa 27:1; Psa 56:3, 4; Psa 64:1; Psa 112:7, +Gen 15:1; Gen 26:24, %Deut 28:66, 1Sa 21:12; 1Sa 27:1, Pro 3:25, Isa 14:3; Isa 41:10; Isa 51:12, Lam 3:57, Dan 10:12, +*2Co 1:4, *Php 4:6, Col 3:15, Heb 13:6, 1Pe 5:7, 1Jn 4:18.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #918, Psalm 34:3

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:3  O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (KJV)

Psa 34:3 O magnify Jehovah with me; and let us exalt His name together. (LITV, Literal translation of the Holy Bible)

Psa 34:3 Ascribe ye greatness to Jehovah with me, And we exalt His name together. (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Psa 34:3 O give praise to the Lord with me; let us be witnesses together of his great name. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:3  Proclaim with me the LORD’s greatness; let us praise his name together! (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:3  Praise the LORD’S greatness with me. Let us highly honor his name together. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Psa 34:3  Come, sing the Lord’s praise with me, let us extol his name together. (Knox translation)

Psa 34:3 Honor the LORD with me! Celebrate his great name. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Above, I have shared Psalm 34:3 from eight English translations. This time I shared from the Ronald Knox translation: The Holy Bible: A translation from the Latin Vulgate in the light of the Hebrew and Greek originals; Authorized by the hierarchy of England and Wales and the hierarchy of Scotland. Sheed & Ward, Inc. New York, 1956.

The Knox translation is one of my favorite English Bible translations. I like the way Monsignor Knox renders the Acrostic Psalms in such a manner as to display their alphabetical structure by boldfacing the initial letter of each verse with a sequential English letter of the alphabet.  I bought this copy on 7-11-57 while working at the Michigan Bell Telephone Company.

I noticed that the mail distributor was spending much free time playing cards. I suggested that with the extra time he had available between mail runs he could better use his time reading the Bible. He said he could not do that because he was Roman Catholic. I said I would loan him my copy of a Roman Catholic Bible I had just purchased, a modern English version. He agreed to read it. I suggested that he read and reread the Gospel of John. He did that. When it came time that he was to be transferred to a different telephone office, he returned my Knox Bible. He had tears in his eyes. He said the Gospel of John repeatedly said “Believe, Believe, Believe.” Then he said, “Why does my church not emphasize this?” I suggested that he continue reading the Bible, and that is the last I saw of him. I pray he found true faith in our  Lord Jesus Christ by reading the Bible for himself.

Several times since then I have shared the Knox translation, especially the New Testament edition, with Roman Catholics. I gave a copy to one of my junior high school students when the family lost most of their possessions when their home burned down one night while they slept. Fortunately they escaped with their lives.

I shared a copy of the  Knox New Testament with a local businessman who became very upset at the scandals involving his church that made the news repeatedly. I hope he has found true faith in Christ as a result of reading the New Testament.

I might as well mention that I have never suggested to any of my Roman Catholic friends, fellow-workers, or students in public school that they should find a different church to attend. I leave that up to the working of the Holy Spirit.

Here are the newly expanded cross references for Psalm 34:3 I have prepared for the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 34:3
magnify. Psa 35:27; Psa 40:16; Psa 69:30; Psa 70:4; Psa 107:8, Job 36:24, Luk 1:46, Act 19:17, Php 1:20.

let us exalt. Psa 30:1; Psa 33:1, 2; *Psa 37:34; Psa 57:7; Psa 66:8; Psa 66:17; Psa 99:5, 9; Psa 103:20, 22; Psa 148:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. Exo 15:2, 1Ch 29:20, 2Ch 29:30, Isa 12:4; Isa 58:13, Mrk 5:19, 20, Luk 15:6, 7, Rev 14:7; Rev 19:5, 6.

his name. Psa 86:12.

together. Psa 95:1, +*Rom 12:5; +**Rom 15:7, +*Heb 10:25 notes.

 

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #917, Psalm 34:2

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Psa 34:2  My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. (KJV)

Psa 34:2  I’m boasting of you and all your works, so let all who are discouraged take heart. (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Psa 34:2  My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. (NIV, New International Version)

Psa 34:2 I will boast in the LORD;
let the oppressed hear and rejoice! (NET Bible)

Psa 34:2  My soul will glory in the LORD; humble people will be glad to hear it. (Beck translation)

Psa 34:2  I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! (GNB, Good News Bible)

Psa 34:2 My soul will say great things of the Lord: the poor in spirit will have knowledge of it and be glad. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Psa 34:2  Humble people, listen and be happy, while I brag about the LORD. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Psa 34:2 My soul shall make its boast in Jehovah: the meek shall hear, and rejoice. (Darby translation)

Psa 34:2 With all my heart, I will praise the LORD. Let all who are helpless, listen and be glad. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

David had a testimony to share. He was eager to share his experience of God’s faithfulness and deliverance with others. Humble people will be glad to hear what he has to say.

This echoes a pattern in life for those who know the Lord. Our lives will be a testimony to God’s grace and faithfulness. I have experienced instances where others knew where I stood immediately without  my ever saying a word about it. This has been true of fellow employees when I worked for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. It has often been true of my students when I taught at the high school level in Detroit. The result has sometimes been that lives have been turned around for the better and souls have come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all credit and praise belongs.

Dig deeper into what and where else the Bible has to say on the subjects found at Psalm 34:2 by reading and studying the cross references newly expanded for  Psalm 34:2 for the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Psalms 34:2
soul. Heb. nephesh, +Gen 34:3. Luk 1:46.

make her boast. Psa 9:12; Psa 44:8; Psa 64:10; Psa 70:4; Psa 105:3; Psa 106:5, Song 5:16, Isa 45:25, *Jer 9:23; Jer 9:24, Luk 1:46, Act 10:46, 1Co 1:31, 2Co 1:4, 2Co 10:17, Gal 6:14, **Heb 13:15.

the humble. or, patient, oppressed, depressed. Psa 9:12; Psa 10:12; Psa 10:17; Psa 22:22, 23, 24; +*Psa 25:9; Psa 32:5, 6; *Psa 66:16; Psa 69:32; *Psa 119:74; Psa 142:7, Pro 14:21, Mat 5:16, Luk 2:38, 1Ti 1:15, 16.

shall hear. %Psa 66:18, Exo 18:1,

and be glad. Psa 9:2, Psa 69:32, 1Sa 2:1, 1Ch 16:10, **1Ti 1:16.

 

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