Psalm 34:4-5 New International Version (NIV)
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.

A Double Testimony of God’s Grace
Have you been gripped by fear? Has the paralyzing effect of fear held you captive? Are you covered with shame? Does your shame make you hide your face? There is good news. God’s grace is extended to those who seek Him. He delivers us from every one of our fears. Some fears are provoked by lies and others are fueled by realities that surrounding us. No matter what grim realities we see, God’s Truth is greater. Just like in prophet Elisha’s time. The reality was that Ahab’s armies surrounded him and his servant. Fear gripped his servant but Elisha prayed and his servant’s spiritual eyesight was opened to heaven’s realities. Suddenly, he saw a greater army of angelic hosts that were ready to fight for them. God’s Promised Presence was the Truth greater than impending death. What situation has you in fear? Does sickness, disease or any other physical condition? If it has a name, it qualifies to be subjected under the Name that is above every name. That is the Name of Jesus! Let’s look at the content of this testimony. First, the testimony covers what the Psalmist did: he sought the Lord. Then, what the Lord did for Him: He answered him. Thirdly, how did the Lord do it: By delivering him from all his fears. What a security we have in the Lord Our God!
He gives us deliverance in place of our fear. Where fear paralyzed our potential, God brings freedom and release to our potential.

Have you been burdened with shame? Is your conscience stained by a residue of what was once there? Is shame shutting you up or putting you down? The same God who sets us free from all our fears is the same God who will shine His Pure Light on you. A face to face encounter with Almighty will leave you radiating His Purity on your face! This second testimony is meant to echo or resound the truth stated in the first. The God of deliverance, cleanses us from all shame of the past. God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all. The Psalmist testifies: He gave me a face that shines with His radiance in place of the darkness that shame gave me!
This testimony of His grace is true for anyone who would seek Him and turn to Him. The remedy for all our fears and all our shame is looking to Him. There was an event that prefigured what Christ would be be doing through His work on the cross. Moses was commanded to hang a bronze serpent on a pole and all those who were dying from snake bites would be instantly healed. What did the people have to do in order to be rescued from that evil plague? Just to look to the brazen serpent hanging on the pole. No good works, no other requirements to be met, just to believe and heed to the remedy which God had prescribed. God who spoke in so many ways and so many times in the past has now spoken to us through His Son. God sent His only Son to hang on the cross carrying on himself the very plague of sin that has infected all of humanity. All we need to do is believe and heed as we look to Christ to save us from the wages of our sin. Only when do, will we be able to bear witness with the psalmist as he exclaimed: “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame!”