JESUS, THE Angel of the LORD (Ps.34)

In Psalm 34, David mentions his experience - (Daivd is "this poor man" crying out and being saved) - which is followed with a statement about THE Angel of the LORD (Jesus of the Old Testament)

(Psalm 34:6-7)  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.

Just as Jesus is with those who put their trust in Him, and saves them...

(1 Timothy 1:15)  It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Jesus is the only One who can save us (and preserve us), because of His work on the cross, which David prophetically refers to...

(Psalm 34:20)  He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.

This is fulfilled as seen in John 19...

(John 19:31-36)  Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.”

In this psalm, David focuses a lot on - fearing the LORD...

(Psalm 34:9)  O fear the Lord, you His saints...
And...
(Psalm 34:11)  Come, you children, listen to me;  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

David makes sure to tell us HOW (to fear the LORD)...

(Psalm 34:8)  O taste and see that the Lord is good;  how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

"Taste and see" would be like seeking out and experiencing.  And taking refuge would be like trusting and believing wholly in Jesus...  Then, to continue this "fear" after becoming believers...

(Psalm 34:13-14)  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

David also tells us WHY...

(Psalm 34:4-5)  I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.  5 They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
6 

Interesting that when we FEAR the LORD - we will have nothing to FEAR.  And we will be a light to the world.   AND there is no want of any good thing...

(Psalm 34:9-10)  O fear the Lord, you His saints;  for to those who fear Him there is no want.  The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;  but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing...  
(Psalm 34:12)  Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good?

And another WHY (should we fear) is that the LORD will protect and preserve us.  Doesn't mean we will not suffer or have troubles, but when we continue to fear God...

(Psalm 34:15-22)  The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,  to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

And the most important WHY is that believers will have eternal security!

(Psalm 34:22)  The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

We are redeemed!  Our sins are remembered no more!  As God says in...

(Hebrews 8:12)  "For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

So what should our reaction be to all of this?  As David says right in the beginning of this psalm...

(Psalm 34:1-3)  I will bless the Lord at all times;  His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  2 My soul will make its boast in the Lord;  the humble will hear it and rejoice.  3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.