Psalms 34:22
The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
The LORD’s amazing love and care for the souls of all His servants are explained here. Their redemption is the LORD’s gracious work. They had no power to deliver themselves. They were once ensnared in a pitiful state of perilous entanglements with sin, awaiting to reap its eternal consequences. But the LORD took pity on them and redeemed them from their many sins that pushed them towards eternal peril.
Now they are His servants, being freed from the terrors of sin. They live daily in all the accompanying blessings of His redemption. Their hearts rejoice in the forgiveness of their sins. They now live not as those who are alienated from God, but as those who are redeemed to serve Him. The LORD is the Master of their souls. They rejoice that they are the servants of His kingdom. As they serve Him each day, their experiences as His servants constantly put them in remembrance of the greatness of the redemption they have received from their Redeemer and LORD.
While they serve Him, they sing one to another, “Bless the LORD … who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:2-4). They serve Him more and more, ever thankful for His great redemption.
As they serve Him, they also trust in Him. The Hebrew word for “trust” also has the idea of “flying to a refuge, or to betake oneself to some defence in order to get shelter there”. All His servants take their refuge in Him. They do not trust in their own strength as they serve Him. They know that only by trusting the LORD every day can their souls be free from the fear of desolation. The Hebrew word for “desolation” carries the idea of guilt and condemnation. Because they believe in the LORD, they know that there is no condemnation. By faith in their LORD, they ward off the fear of being confounded and condemned!
The LORD’s servants do not act in self-confidence. Their confidence is in the LORD. They are characterised by humility and faith in God. When doubt and fear assail them, they look to their LORD for courage and strength. Hence, they serve Him even in the midst of adversity, for their hearts are strengthened by their faith in their Redeemer and LORD.