Psalms 34 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 34

Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

¹ Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34:1   I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2   My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3   Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!
4   I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5   Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6   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 delivers them.
8   Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9   Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10   The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11   Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12   What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13   Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14   Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.
15   The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16   The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17   When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18   The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the 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   Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22   The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

[1] 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

Commentary

The context is 1 Sam 21.10-15, a psalm of personal testimony. David, having been sent away from Achish (Abimelech), was in the cave of Adullam, considering God's faithfulness. David had experienced good and bad, had been close to the godly, and to the ungodly, and this Psalm reflects those experiences.

v1-3: Personal gratitude to God, for He had heard David's prayer and had delivered him. David invited others to share in praising God; see also v11.

v4: He delivered David, and He will deliver others; a personal experience of God's faithfulness must not be considered the only demonstration of God's faithfulness; we must not think selfishly about His blessings.

v5: David is confident that God will never disappoint. Others will look to Him, and be delivered also.

v6: David describes himself, "this poor man"; he knew he was not worthy of any kindness form the Lord; yet He heard him and saved him.

Notice the phrases; "all my fears" (v4), "all his troubles" (v6, 17, 19); the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous out of all things. Troubles might be the attacks of others; but they may also be self-inflicted. All are included here.

v7: God's blessing upon those who are His; His people are surrounded by good. But contrast the experience of Job (Job 16.13) and of Christ (Ps 22.12, 16). Our part is to seek Him in prayer; sought (v4), looked (v5), cried (v6).

v8-10: Seeking and finding; the Lord never disappoints those who trust Him; such is the experience that is ours.

We are to fear the Lord, showing reverence for Almighty God. See Ps 22.23, 25; 25.12, 14; 31.19; 33.8, 18.

v11-14: David gathers his few friends around him, to teach them the true ways of God. Unless we are obedient, he says, God's blessing will elude us. Essential to be obedient in practice; verses quoted in 1 Pet 3.10-12.

v15-16: The Lord knows those who are His; He makes a distinction between believers and unbelievers.

v17-18: Many righteous are also broken-hearted, because they have suffered at the hands of the unrighteous. The Lord hears them, He is near; he will deliver and save.

v19-22: The assurance of answered prayer; the righteous man, because he belongs to the Lord, will experience His blessing.