A Lion Problem
Psalm 34:8-10
Sometimes the Scripture is like an underground mineshaft, which is always open, but requires you to go inside. After you are in, you have to shine the Light of God around to see everything he has for you. The kingdom of Heaven is also like the man who brought out of his house treasures old and new. Sometimes you find new stuff every time you look. Whether you are mining or visiting the house of an old friend, God always has something for you in his Word. How else would he feed the church with this living water and living word for all of eternity as John 4:14 asserts. This is why all we need is in him. There will be no new revelation other than what he has already given according to Matthew 12:38-42. Some of you, as Matthew 7:7-12 points out, do not have because you seek not. Some of you do not find because you look not. Some of you cannot hear because you have other people in your ears or your own self talking rather than God. Sometimes I must coax him to say anything. Other times, I cannot get him to shut up he talks so.
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Why are we discussing principles of mining in the middle of a Psalm that is clearly about David and his jacked-up stuff? The same God he served is the same God today. The only difference between David and us is that some of us will not seek the Lord. If we do, we will not seek him for as long as it takes to get into his presence. There is nothing wrong with laying ourselves down on the altar of the Lord before him. You say, 'but I do not see the Lord is good; I have a situation chasing me.' I was just waiting for someone to say that. You see, in verse ten, there is an interesting story to be found.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
When the lions go hungry, they roar to the Lord all day and night. He sends them on the hunt for something to eat. Until he provides for them next, they are roaring as they go. Can you not hear them now singing his praises about how good God is to them. They may be roaming through the earth, but they are still singing of him. The only lion that will not roar is a dead lion according to Psalm 115:17. Let me tell you something. They roar when they are hungry, and they roar when they are filled. Do they ever lack? God says they will not because they always seek him. We, just as those lions which do nothing but sleep, hunt, and cry out to God, should seek the Lord like that. The lions are solitary creatures who do not see anyone but Jesus and other lions. They have the provision of God over their lives. Why should those lions need the jackal next door to come over for a chat. I hardly need to point out that some of us do far more than these lions. How much more will not he care for us who also cares for the lions and the sparrows alike in Matthew 10:29. Tell me, what good thing can come out of a lion as in John 1:46. Yet in Revelation 5:5-6, is not Jesus called both the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb who had been slain. We have him not because of us but because of what he has done. God's provision, seen in 1 Peter 5:8, is even for the devil himself. Does not Satan roam through the earth "seeking whom he may devour." Now this is an uncomfortable bit of theology which I do not enjoy the thought of but one of which God himself is the administrator.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
There is a danger to be found in taking the Scriptures in isolation of one another. Fear of the Lord is something the demonic lack but which both the lions and the believers have. Because they fear the Lord, they do not eat their cubs nor kill the elderly of the pack. "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy understanding" as in Proverbs 9:10. Lacking nothing is contingent upon the fear of the Lord. Because I fear the Lord, he will govern my behavior. I will walk, talk, and act like him because I fear him. I fear him and I will lack nothing. It does not matter if I am weak and hungry today. I cry to him, fear him, and know I will not be tomorrow because his provision is already on the way. The windows of Heaven will he not open them up for our blessing as in 2 Kings 7:2. So little is found in what we have by ourselves, but he gives us much out of his house. The story is told of a man who went to his friend's house hungry, but he was already in bed according to Luke 11:5-13. Notice that the plurality of lion is lions. God blessing is not just for you but for the blessing of many. Notice the pack mentality mentioned here. Could it be if you cannot get your breakthrough, you might need to get in the presence of God. Then, you may need to find some other lions just like you to go attack this thing. What blessing God has for you is for you. He will arrange for the blessing of others while he is at it.