“I Recommend Jesus” (part 2)

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.”

-Psalm 34:8 NRSV

Why I recommend Jesus: As you can see, Jesus is the object of my recommendation. The Random House College Dictionary definition for recommend is “to present as worthy of confidence, acceptance, use; to represent or urge as advisable or expedient; to suggest a choice as appropriate, beneficial, or the like. ”

This Psalm suggests that David had found the Lord to be worthy of “confidence, acceptance, and use,” for he says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” [Psalm 34:4]. He did not say that he sought Momma or Daddy, wife, lover, brother, friend, prophet, or priest. If we were to add to that list for today, we might also have to include doctor, lawyer, therapist, bartender, accountant, or personal drug supplier. Rather, David sought the Lord.

This particular psalm resulted from a period when David was fleeing from Saul’s threat of death. He was pushed to a point of having to feign madness in order to save his life. Yet as he reflected on that time, he was able to bless the Lord because the Lord had heard him! If you have ever been in trouble, then you know that it’s good to have someone who will hear and answer you in your distress.

Then David said that not only had the Lord heard him, but that the Lord also had delivered him from all his fears and saved him out of all his troubles. On top of that, the Lord had angel standing guard over him. So he had good reason to present the Lord “as worthy of confidence, acceptance, and use” to all those that would hear.

As I consider the Lord Jesus this Lent season, I have good reason to present him “as worthy of confidence, acceptance, and use” to all those that will hear! If you need one who can hear and deliver today, then I recommend Jesus!

 

“I Recommend Jesus” (part 3)

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.”

-Psalm 34:8 NRSV

Why I recommend Jesus: It is easy to see that David’s recommendation of the Lord was based on personal experience rather than on someone else’s word. It is one thing to take another person’s word on who or what to try. We do it all the time. If LeBron James says that we should try a particular wireless phone or tablet company, we’ll go check it out! When Sophia Vergara oohs and ahs over a can of Diet Pepsi, we think it can make us look the way that she does! Advertisers bank on our willingness to accept the recommendation of someone held high in our esteem. Yet, most of us have had an experience where we’ve gone out and tried something on somebody else’s word and wound up highly disappointed in the ends.

David was not one of those who had just taken somebody else’s word for how good the Lord was. He had personally experienced the Lord’s goodness. He had spent years out in the countryside tending his father’s sheep and got to know the Lord for himself. He had developed that sweet communion. When the lion and bear tried to attack the sheep, he got to know the Lord as a victorious conqueror. When he was anointed by Samuel to replace Saul as king, he got to know the Lord as one who looked on the heart of a person and not on outward appearances. When he had to run for his life because of Saul’s threats, he got to know the Lord as one who delivers and is faithful to keep his promises.

David had plenty of opportunities to try the Lord for himself, and because he had tried the Lord for himself, he was able to say, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” [Psalm 34:1-3] He had seen the Lord come through for him in the midst of tragedy and was able to boast in the Lord’s goodness!

I am glad that I can join in with David’s song and recommend Jesus to you myself because I’ve tried him for myself and have found him to be a friend. I recommend Jesus to you today.

Stay tuned! Next: It’s only a recommendation.

-Dollie Howell Pankey