BLACKBERRIES

Blackberries ripen, full and sweet,

to make for me an August treat.

Their goodness calls me, “Come and dine!”,

so up I climb to make them mine.

Safe underneath the ash and beech,

the berries grow within my reach.

I pluck them quickly for my pail

and eat my fill along the trail.

Blackberries splendid, good and free,

are like the graces given me.

God’s fruit is for the picking ones,

and with it, love and mercy comes.

O taste and see that the LORD is good:

blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 34:8

BLACKBERRIES

Picking blackberries can be therapeutic on an August evening up behind Veery Glade. Frozen away, they will make nice additions to an oven-baked cobbler during winter and remind us of the goodness of summer.

Psalm 34, written by the psalmist David, begins with extolling the LORD. Our Creator desires us to draw near to Him. Praying praise focuses our attention on Creator God who can deliver us from our problems.

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

Psalm 34: 1-2

As we collect fruit in our pails, we are thankful for God’s goodness to us. In a world where some people mock God, we know these people only deceive themselves. Scripture tells us God cannot be mocked.

I sought the LORD, and he heard me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4

I trust, faithful reader, that you know we have a hearing God. And made in His image, we are additional proof that God has ears! David knew this. To not pray is to say God can’t hear. That’s exactly what the devil wants people to think. Satan is against God’s creation and any idea of a fellowship with Creator God, who made Adam and Eve and strolled with them in the Garden of Eden, talking with them.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Psalm 34:5-7

King David knew a lot can happen from seeking the LORD. Saved out of all troubles? An angel tenting nearby? Yeah. We know God is powerful. He sends powerful angels to protect His own.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Psalm 34:10

When David tended his father’s sheep, he knew about predators. Christians remain persecuted for their faith. God has not missed a single jab and will have His vengeance at the time He arranges. Seek God now in prayer before it’s too late. All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. All who fear the LORD will not have any want. The persons made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will see Heaven.

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalm 34: 12-16    (and 1 Peter 3: 10-12)

Some live only for today. What is it to gain today’s worldly goods but lose your eternal soul? Taste and see that the LORD is good for all eternity. Be warned! The above verse rings true. God will also cut off the remembrance of evil doers from the earth.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous:

but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 34:18-19

While picking fruit, it is good to remember God can deliver us from all afflictions. Band aids for scratches from berry briars can be purchased at the store but there isn’t anything in the store for a broken heart. God can heal the broken-hearted. Jesus saves the one with a contrite spirit. Even with all the thickets we have to crawl through, the Holy Spirit can guide us. God is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him through His Son, Jesus. Through thick and thin, keep living for the reward He gives.

With good temperance, pray in the blackberry patch. Ask God where the good path is and then walk in it. Pick the good practice and stick to it. Commit to prayer. Pick the best berries and drop them in your pail. Jesus Christ said to follow Him. Don’t follow the world and its nasty ways. If you’re used to going your own way, it will be difficult to follow Jesus’ way at first. Thankfully, the Savior is patient. Every morning is a new opportunity to live for Jesus.

King David, who must have learned the value of self-control, ends Psalm 34 with a promise from God:

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants:

and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 34:22

Our Creator creates.

Our Redeemer redeems.

Our Rewarder rewards.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14

May you share the goodness of God’s promises with self-control.