The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. Psalm 34:19 NLT
v.20 “He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.” cf. “These things happened in fulfilment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” John 19:36
Jesus had a best friend and his name was John. Jesus showed John things no one else got to see. I think John’s love language must have been quality time because if Jesus went anywhere special or picked someone to go to something with him, John was usually there. “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20, Matthew 17:1, Mark 3:17, John 13:23, John 19:25-27, John 20:8)
It’s John that tells us that Psalm 34:20 should be read to be about Jesus. I don’t know if we would have caught it or understood the importance had John not mentioned it. And I’m not sure I understand fully why it is important.
But I do see a possible conundrum in common logic that David corrects in Psalm 34: 19-20
v.19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
v.20 “He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.”
I want to start with verse 20 and work back to verse 19. The historical account of Jesus dying on the cross includes an explanation of how Jesus does not have his legs broken. (John 19:33) And John tells us that is the fulfilment of what David wrote in Psalm 34. Psalm 34 is full of statements that anyone would want to be definitive promise statements. And I digress to ask how it is possible after the beating that Jesus got that not one of His bones was broken? (Isaiah 52:14, Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 50:6, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 27:28-30) But John, arguably Jesus' best friend, is careful to tell us both in the account and in the statement Jesus fulfilled this scripture.
v.19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
So then let’s consider the two statements in Psalm 34:19. Firstly, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous”.
In other words, (MAIN POINT part 1) Good people will have problems. This is a consistent message in the Bible. Do I need everyday to rehearse for my heart that every significant person mentioned in the Bible suffered. Must I recount the names and the ways in which they struggled, were beaten down by life, how they got a message from God that God would do something extraordinary, and then everything in life seemed to make that impossible? Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Jesus, Paul…..???!!!! Come on heart. Don’t you get it yet? After all these years. 2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
I feel like an old fashioned, Bible-thumping preacher from my youth, just repeating and emphasising each word in the sentence to make the point, to my own heart. MANY I can hardly write any more because I know what this means. Or I am afraid I do not know what this means. I have fears. I pray God will deliver me from these fears and enemies and problems. And I read verse 19 and I think of Paul’s list (2 Corinthians 11:23-33) and I wonder what is coming. If you do not know the story that this Psalm’s title refers to, then you must read it (1 Samuel 21:10-22:1). David has had many problems in his whole life. From young man to dying old king he has many many problems.
(MAIN POINT part 2) The Lord delivers good people out of ALL their problems
Do I believe God will deliver me from all my problems? Do you? Why am I asking you? To whom am I speaking? God delivered Jesus from death and raised Him from the dead. God delivered Jesus from humiliation and gave Him the highest place of authority. God caused His enemies to fall down all around Him over and over. And David too was delivered. He was delivered repeatedly from enemies of all kinds. Even when he was doing the drooling maniac role, he got delivered from Abimelech in many different ways (you can see in the story in 1 Samuel).
But even if I didn’t have the information to fill in the blanks, I would have David’s words in this Psalm. And I have only begun to scratch the surface of the superlatives David recites in praise to God for His triumphant deliverance. And what is the content for David always praising God? Boasting about God, speaking of the greatness of God, confessing being freed by God. David has had problems and what did these problems teach David? That God is good. David says try some of this perspective, taste it and see. You find out what I found out: God is good. You won't ever lack, says David in v.10. David gives a lot of advice for keeping this perspective throughout the Psalm. And if time this morning allowed I’d love to explore all the admonishments and encouragements being offered and all the wise instruction. But I think for me today it is the juxtaposition of verse 19’s two parts and the illustration pointing to Jesus in verse 20 that summarises all this praise and instruction.
I don’t know which part of verse 19 is harder to explain to my own heart. In the past few years I have made myself a promise to only preach to my own heart. I try not to write lessons for others or even for the church anymore. You can all listen in and I may tell you things I have learned. But I want to teach my own heart. I trust God to teach yours. I am trying to not write for the church at large or any particular culture or time. Again I trust God to do that. I want to see Jesus and I want Jesus to remove the things in my heart that are barriers to seeing Him.
Conclusion: Jesus is the prime example for my heart, and He has shown me the way to the Father. He is the way, and I am to follow him. His way was a way of suffering and sacrifice. So I can be sure my way will be the same. MANY Many are the afflictions of the righteous so that’s what I need to expect. BUT But the Lord delivers him out of them all. I don’t have a problem that He is not going to deliver me out of. Putting this message next to the crucifixion of Jesus is critical. It draws a direct line between God’s power to save and God’s method to save. Jesus not only didn’t have any broken bones, He also rose from the dead and is seated on the throne of God with His Father, and He rules with all authority and power. He is on my side because I am on His side. I am on His side because He brought me to His side. Many will be my problems, problems I can’t imagine and problems I will fear, like Jesus did. Denial, abandonment, betrayal, pain unimaginable, humiliation and defamation of character BUT resurrection and enemies falling down every time you turn around. Oh the scenes in the Bible where the enemies just fall down in every way imaginable are hilarious. But crucifixion is no funny party. Heart, you’ve said a lot and thought 1000s of times more than you can write. But David says it best. Go chew on this, you old stubborn confused heart.
v.19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
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