31st March 2026

Chapter 21 of the first book of Samuel tells the somewhat bizarre story of David electing to flee from Saul into the hands of his enemies – people who had not forgiven him for the recent killing of Goliath. Maybe it tells us how desperate David was at this time, and how anywhere that was beyond the reach of Saul was better than where he was. When he was recognised, he feigned madness to escape what might have been a grisly ending and was ejected from before the king, Achish. One of the two psalms indicated to be written at this time is Psalm 34. The striking thing about this psalm is that in the midst of terrible danger and constant fears for his life, David was still moved to write songs that always ended in overflowing praise for his Creator. He could still say – or sing – ‘Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!’ (v8). 

The blessing that comes from trust in the Lord extends to God’s protection and deliverance, and towards the end of the Psalm 34 he describes that protection: ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.’ (vv.19-20).  

Maybe David was looking down at his own body – scarred by constant fighting and fleeing from pursuit – but not broken. But the psalm speaks of one who, a thousand or more years later, followed David, who experienced ‘many afflictions’, who was perfectly righteous, who died on the cross before his bones were broken (John 19:31-33). Jesus’s bruised and battered body was buried by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, but his bones were not broken. Throughout his brief and turbulent ministry he had been pursued by those in power, always one step ahead of death. There was King Herod, the Jews living under a covenant soon to be discarded, their chief priest, the Pharisees, and anyone who could be whipped up into seeking to destroy him, including one of his own disciples. He experienced isolation and rejection as his disciples left him to face his trials on his own, but he was not on his own: ‘…an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him’ (Luke 22:43), something that David had spoken of: ‘The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.’ (Psalm 34:7).

As we face trials we can have the same assurance that, whether it seems like it or not, God is there, we can be strengthened by angels, and there will be deliverance – in God’s time.

¹ Psalm 34:3 (NKJV)

Local congregation:
GCI Market Harborough
9 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough 
LE16 7QU

Meeting time:
Sunday 4.00 pm

Local congregational contact:
Sinead Henderson 
Email: sinead.henderson@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church