The Psalm 34 Challenge Day 20

Psalm 34:20, “He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.”

Consider this: Sometimes you come to a verse in the Bible that is written “for” you but it is not necessarily written “to” you. The entire Bible is written “for” you. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But not every verse is written “to” you.

Today’s verse, “He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken” may apply to God’s protection of David. Since many believers have experienced broken bones, it would indicate that this verse is written “for” them not “to” them. But it is still a general promise of God’s protective care for all believers. The LORD allows us to grow through trials, but He will not allow the trials to crush us. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul writes, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

So, if the verse is not written “to” us, to whom is it written? The New Testament tells us that this verse specifically applies to the Lord Jesus Christ. During His crucifixion, the Jews asked Pilate to hasten the death of the three men on the crosses by breaking their legs. “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs…For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken’” (John 19:33, 36; cf. Psalm 34:20).

Jesus could not have any broken bones because He was the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb. The original Passover Lamb was killed and consumed, and its blood was applied to the front doorposts and the lintel of the house of every Jewish family living in Egypt at the time of the Exodus. Death was coming that night. The destroying angel came to kill every firstborn son in Egypt. There was only one place of safety. If the angel saw that the blood was applied as prescribed, he would “pass over” that house and the firstborn son would be safe. The Passover Lamb was to be perfect, and the specific instructions given for the preparation of the Passover Lamb was that no bone of it should be broken (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12). The full story is found in Exodus 12.

Death is coming to all mankind. God’s judgment will soon be poured out upon the earth. God’s warning has already been issued! There is only one place of safety. A Passover Lamb has already been prepared and provided for you. You cannot be “redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus died on the cross as the Perfect Lamb and no bone of His was broken. There is not enough gold and silver on the planet to pay for our sins. The blood (the life) of Jesus Christ is the only acceptable payment and He poured out his blood on the cross for your sins and mine. The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ – our Passover Lamb – must be applied to our sins so that we can be saved from the judgment that is coming. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Psalm 34:20 is far deeper than we notice at first glance. The protection He offers is not just about our bodies or our skeleton, but about our soul and our eternal future. I am grateful for the physical protection that the LORD provides for this life, but I am even more thankful to Him for His eternal protection. He says, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15). “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

Psalm 34:20, “He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.”