Better Than the Lions

 

The lions may grow weak and hungry …

—from Psalm 34:10

No, this blog post isn’t about preferring one sports team above another. The title is based on these words of King David found in Psalm 34:10:

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

In David’s day, the lion was the most powerful and most feared animal. No mere human could ever hope to stand up to a lion. Although, we do know from Scripture that teenage David had certainly faced lions when he was protecting his sheep out in the Galilean hills. And, we also know that God closed the mouths of the lions that inhabited the den into which Daniel was thrown. Nevertheless, lions represent a force of nature with which humans dare not trifle.

No matter how powerful lions may be, they still needed to eat. If they didn’t eat, these powerful lions would grow weak and lose their strength. But, David contrasts this status of the lions with those who seek the Lord. David asserts that God-seekers lack no good thing. Why? The answer is because God supplies all they need.

As we begin another new day, let’s count ourselves among those who seek the Lord. As genuine “God-seekers,” we will surely experience the reality that we will lack nothing in our lives. God will truly supply all our needs and make us better than the lions.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Fear the Lord

 

Fear the Lord, you his saints …

—from Psalm 34:9

We generally think of the word “fear” as meaning “afraid.” But, in actual fact, the word “fear” has a much broader set of definitions.

As a transitive verb, the word “fear” means to frighten, to feel fear in oneself, to have reverential awe, to be afraid of, or expect alarm. As an intransitive verb, the word “fear” means to be afraid of, or be apprehensive of. Okay. I get it. You want to know what a transitive verb and intransitive verb is. Right?

A transitive verb is one that is used with an object: a noun, phrase, or pronoun and refers to the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb. An intransitive verb does not have a direct object.

Notice what King David wrote in Psalm 34:9:

Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

In this sentence, the word “fear” takes a direct object “the Lord.” So, the word “fear” is a transitive verb. And, instead of evoking a sense of apprehension, the word intends to capture a sense of great reverence—to have reverential awe. That reverence is borne out of the fact that God is the all-powerful creator of the universe. His power is beyond our comprehension. In fact, every one of His qualities is beyond our comprehension.

Just as His power and might fills us with reverential awe, so does His great love for us. He truly is to be perceived with great reverence. So, David indicates that those who possess great reverence for the Lord are the ones who lack nothing.

As we begin another new day, let’s recognize that our reverence for the God, who loved us enough to sacrifice His one and only Son in our behalf, is a worthy response to who He is. And, as a result, He gives us everything we need, so that we lack nothing.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Come! Taste and See!

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good …

—from Psalm 34:8

Has anyone ever invited you to come to his or her home at a particular time, so that he or she could share a tasty meal with you? Most likely you have had just such an experience. The hospitality of good food and good conversation really can’t be beat.

King David clearly recognized that the relationship he had with the God who had chosen David to be king was one that mirrored an experience of rich hospitality. Notice what David wrote in Psalm 34:8:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

It is not beyond reason to say that God is our banquet. He has set a table before us and invites us to come to Him for rest, refreshment, and the very best hospitality available in all of the universe. He, who has created all things, invites us to come to His table and enjoy fellowship, along with protection and refuge.

As we begin each new day, we can do so knowing that we always have a place at God’s table. He waits to welcome us to come and sit with Him for a while. He gladly provides what we need and offers us the very best sustenance available.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Encamped Around

 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him …

—from Psalm 34:7

When you go to sleep at night, do you like to have the covers all pulled up around you? I do. It’s almost like a cocoon of warmth and protection. Most of us enjoy the feeling of security that a nice cozy blanket can provide, especially when it’s cooler during the night.

King David recognized that, in the depth of his misery and trouble, God had provided a covering around him that was even more secure than a warm blanket on a cold night. That covering of protection came from the presence of the angel of the Lord. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:7:

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

As followers of the Great King Jesus, we “Christ’s-ones” have that same strong protection surrounding us, as well. God puts His guarding angel in charge of us to keep us all the days of our lives. We can move forward each day, secure in the knowledge that we are divinely protected.

So, as we come to the start of this new day, let’s remember to give thanks to God for His divine protection. And also, let’s remember that we most certainly are under the guardianship of the God who loves us with His eternal love.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Call of a Poor Man

 

This poor man called, and the Lord heard …

—from Psalm 34:6

Have you ever felt so worthless that you believed if you were to ask someone for help they would refuse? I hope not. Yet, I know our world is filled with people who feel utterly useless, completely worthless, and absolutely hopeless.

We who follow Jesus have a particular responsibility to reach out to those who feel that they have no worth and no hope. We have a wellspring of value and hope because God has chosen us to belong to Himself through His precious Son, Jesus. Therefore, we are compelled to share with others what God has given us.

King David knew what it was to feel that everything he valued had been taken away from him. He believed there was no one who would help him, except for God. David knew that God would never reject him. That’s why David wrote these words found in Psalm 34:6:

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

As we begin a new day, let’s remember the lesson David teaches us in this verse of Psalm 34. God stands ready to help us. When we feel like no one knows and no one cares, God loves us, cares for us, and longs for us to ask Him to help us.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Radiant Faces

 

Those who look to him [God] are radiant …

—from Psalm 34:5

Can you spot someone who is feeling great joy? I imagine you can. There is just something about the way he or she looks. We often say that he or she appears radiant. Please let me offer two illustrations:

I remember my mother often telling my dad on our way home from church on Sunday that she thought such and such a mother was pregnant. “She’s just glowing,” my mom would say. And, she was usually right. In just a few weeks, the announcement of an impending birth would spread throughout the church.

New brides and grooms often have “that look” about them that says they’re feeling significant joy. Their smiles radiate the love that they feel for each other. In fact, that feeling of being deeply loved tends to affect how they relate to other people, as well.

It should come as no surprise that King David would use such a radiant image to describe the relationship that those chosen by God have with Him. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:5:

Those who look to him [God] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

A follower of Jesus can receive no greater a compliment than to hear someone say:

“When I look at you, I see Jesus.”

The radiance of Christ’s divine Presence within a believer is surely a mark of great joy. Therefore, as we begin a new day, let’s not be afraid to show the joy that dwells within us because God has chosen us to belong to Himself. We have every good reason to have radiant faces, filled with overflowing joy.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Always Answers Me

 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me …

—from Psalm 34:4

Did you ever ask someone a question and have them seemingly refuse to answer? Perhaps you asked your son or daughter to take out the trash. In response to your request you heard, well, nothing. You looked to see if your son or daughter had on earphones and was listening to music. No, no earphones. You looked to see if he or she was watching television and did not hear your request. No, the TV was muted for a commercial. So, you asked your question again. And, once again, you heard no response.

Your frustration level began to rise. The third time you asked your son or daughter to take out the trash, your voice likely rose with a tinge of anger. I’m not going to speculate on whether or not you received a response. It is just as likely that you didn’t get an answer than if you did. God is not at all like that. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 34:4:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

When we seek an answer from God, He always answers us. Now, we may not like the answer we receive. And, we may have to wait until God decides the timing is right to answer us. But, we always receive an answer.

“Wait a minute,” you say. “I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed about something and I don’t feel that God has ever answered me.”

But, don’t you see? God has seemingly remained silent, yet in a sense, He has answered you. By His silence, He is urging you to keep praying and to wait on His timing. As the days pass, you will find that God’s plan for your situation will unfold slowly and carefully right before your eyes.

Other times, the answer that God gives us may appear as exactly the opposite of the answer for which we hoped and desired. Nevertheless, God’s answer will ultimately always prove out as the best possible answer we could have received from Him. This is because He always has our best interest in mind.

As we begin a new day, let’s not hesitate to make our requests known to God. In His loving and caring way, He will always answer us with the right answer—the one we really need.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}