Psalm 34 is one of the most well-known and beloved psalms. Most believers have even memorized several verses from this psalm. It is amazing when we learn that this psalm that speaks with such positivity and confidence in the power of God that works on behalf of His people was written during or about one of the darkest periods of David's life.
The subtitle of the psalm says that it was written “when David feigned madness in front of king Abimelech and he drove him away, and he departed.” We read about this incident in 1 Sam 21:10-15.
Young David who was once anointed as future King of Israel and having defeated the Philistines by killing Goliath, David was a folk hero in Israel. However, due to the jealousy of King Saul, Saul attempted to kill David at multiple locations and David spent years fleeing from him. At this occasion, David tried to go to Gath, in the land of the Philistines to try and escape from Saul who was constantly in pursuit. The king of Gath at that time was Achish. Most likely, Abimelech was his title, like Pharaoh, Ptolemy, or Caesar.
David, when he was recognized by the people of Gath, feigned madness: scrawling on the wall and letting spittle flow all over his beard. What a humiliating situation for one who was celebrated only a short while ago. It was at this time that David says: I will bless the Lord at all times. Hallelujah!
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
This means that at all times, in all kinds of circumstances, we ought to bless Him. I will praise Him verbally. With words, not silently.
“My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice.”
Our boast should be in the Lord and in the Lord alone. Not in things the Lord graciously blesses us with, not in His blessings. We must boast in Him and honor Him in front of the humble, because hearing us praise Him strengthens the others around us.
“O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
A beautiful call to worship God together. When the people of God worship Him together with hearts that are truly submitted to Him, God receives glory, He is pleased, and His people are blessed.
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.”
God is One who delivers when we truly seek Him. We see this theme again and again throughout this psalm. That the people of God are those that fear Him and Him alone, they go through trouble and He delivers them.
The enemy uses fear to get to us because fear is a powerful weapon. Fear of something, fear of what people think, fear of what people might do, fear of the situations we are facing, fear of what might go wrong, fear of what tomorrow holds. When fear takes hold of us, it has the power to grip us, to overpowere us, to tie us down. God does not intend us to fear anything else but Him. He did not call us to fear, but to freedom.
The opposite of fear is faith. When we believe that He is with us and is able to help us in every situation, it will help us overcome every fear.
“They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed.”
God causes us to shine bright for Him. There are times in our life when we go through situations which could make us feel, "Oh Lord, I have put my trust in you. If this situation is not resolved, I will be ashamed." Cheer up, child of God. If you put your trust in the Lord and wait in Him for your deliverance either the deliverance itself or the strength He gives you before it will cause you to be vindicated. You will not be ashamed.
“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.”
Again, when we call out to Him in our deep poverty, He saves us out of our troubles. The poor man is one who has no confidence in anything other than in his God. Not in his strength, nor in his wealth, nor in people, nor in his influence. The poor man has only one source of strength: his God.
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.”
God's angels are ministering whose main purpose is to worship God. But we often see in scriptures that they are given a task to carry a message to His people or do something on behalf of them. God is able to send His angels to encamp around you to deliver you.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
Experience Him personally. His grace and His mercy are abundant and everlasting. Let your knowledge of Him be real and personal. Not what you read about, but what you know to be true.
“O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.”
Fear Him O His people. He is not your buddy, your pal your chum. He is the creator and possessor of the universe. Fear is not being scared of Him like you are afraid of the dark, heights, or jump scares.
Fear as the Hebrew people understood the scriptures is to have a reverential awe and a worshipful obedience. We need to have reverence for God that leads to a sense of awe. We need to worship Him that leads to total submission and obedience to Him. That is the fear of God.
“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”
What a beautiful promise. Even the young lions who are very agile and healthy and can hunt themselves might go hungry. But if you are one that seeks the Lord, you will not be in want of any good thing.
“Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
“Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good?”
The psalmist is encouraging his listeners to learn the fear of the Lord. What is this reverential awe and worshipful obedience that he is speaking about? How do we have it? We have the answer to that question that hides a promise that follows immediately. That if you fear God, that you can see length of days and you will see God.
“Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit.”
The first thing it speaks about is your speech. Keep it from saying evil things and deceitful or lying things. Very important that the man and woman of God guard your lips and not allow any unwholesome words to proceed from our mouth. No foolish talk, coarse joking, on jesting. Only words that glorify God and build others.
“Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.”
Now do not do evil things. Keep away from sin. Often the power of sin comes from our focus on sin and temptation. When we focus on God and His holiness instead, the power of sin is removed.
Thirdly, pursue peace. If there is an opportunity for misunderstanding, pursue peace. If there is a possibility of conflict, pursue peace.
Hebrews 12:14 echoes this same statement:
“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.”
Isn't it reassuring that God's eyes are able to see us, His people and that His ears hear our cry? It is a great assurance that God always hears us and answers us. Recently, I heard a Bible teacher speak about the silence of God and said, "God may often be silent, but He is never indifferent." When we are righteous before God, in that we are closed with the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ and have forsaken and repented of known sin, God always hears us and delivers us.
“The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.”
This verse shows that the opposite is also true! When we are not righteous in the eyes of God, He can turn turns His face from us.
“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.”
Once again, the promise that when the righteous cry out to God, His deliverance is not afar off.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
At every time God is with us. But when we go through a time of brokenness and mourning, His presence is nearer than ever. When we are crushed in spirit, when we are contrite in repentance before Him, He is very near to us.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
I wish this weren't true. But it is a fact that every child of God goes through situations that are difficult. There are many afflictions for the righteous. But take heart, child of God, He will deliver us from all of the afflictions.
“He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.”
This is a direct Messianic prophecy that was fulfilled in Christ. But God's promise of protection is still available to His people.
“Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.”
“The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”
The Lord has redeemed, or purchased by paying a price, the souls of His servants. And the ones that take refuge in Him will not be condemned or punished. By His perfect sacrifice, Jesus, the Lamb of God, paid the price for our sins and has set us free from the penalty of our sins.
Praise be to God for His wonderful promise to save, rescue, and deliver the ones that fear Him.