Psalms 34:11

 Psalms 34:11 says, Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.  David asked the children to listen to him and he would teach them to fear. the LORD.  We, as followers of Christ, should call on our children to listen to us as we teach them to put their faith in and show respect to God.  Verse twelve asks, What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?  Though David asked this as a question, I believe it was a rhetorical one.  Nearly all people desire these things.  Verse thirteen states, Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.  David then begins to list some things a person should do in order to have a long life and see good.  First, he said they should not speak evil and guile.  The Bible has a lot to say about controlling the tongue, and we as Christians should learn to control ours.  Verse fourteen adds, Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.  Next, David said people wanting a long and good life should depart from evil, do good, and seek and pursue peace.  As followers of Christ, we need to turn away from evil and actively work toward peace in the world.  Verse fifteen declares, The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.  David said that God is watching over the righteous, those who put their faith in Him, and that He is listening for when they cry out to Him.  We are never righteous by our own merit, but only by puting our faith in God through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse sixteen adds,The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.  David then said that God turned His face away from those who did evil and that He would cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.  No matter how powerful or rich a person may be today, if the do not put their faith in Christ, one day they will be cut off from Him to be remembered no more.  Verse seventeen says, The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. David tells us that when the righteous cry out that God hears and delivers them.  This will never change, but our righteousness is not from our own goodness but from our relationship with Christ, and when we have that relationship, we are forever secure in God's grace, no matter what happens in this world.  Verse eighteen adds, The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  I believe this means those who are broken hearted and contrite in spirit because they recognize their guilt as they call on God.  God is always near tto those who call on Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit, which acknowledges their need for God's forgiveness.  We never have to go hunting for God when we acknowledge our need for His forgiveness, but He is always as close as a prayer.  Verse nineteen declares, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.  David said that the righteous would suffer many afflictions, but that God would deliver them.  This is far from the name it and claim it because God wants me to be happy concept that many proclaim today.  Verse twenty adds, He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.  David said that God would protect His people, I believe spiritually.  Even if we suffer and die for our faith, God has already given us an everlasting victory and a home in heaven, where there will be no broken bodies.  Verse twenty-one continues, Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.  When God's judgment comes, the evil, those who reject the righteousness of Christ, will be destroyed.  Often in the world today they destroy each other.  Verse twenty-two concludes, The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.  David said that God redeems the soul of His servants and that none who trust in Him shall be desolate.  If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have everlasting life with God.