Psalms34

David resolves to continually bless the Lord, recounting his personal deliverance from fears and troubles. He encourages others to taste and see the Lord's goodness, assuring them that those who fear Him will lack no good thing. The psalm contrasts the Lord's attentive care for the righteous with His opposition to the wicked. It concludes with the promise of ultimate redemption and preservation for His servants.

Commitment to Perpetual Praise

1
By David, when he pretended to be insane before Avimelekh, who then drove him away; so he left: I will bless ADONAI at all times; his praise will always be in my mouth. ​
2
When I boast, it will be about ADONAI; the humble will hear of it and be glad. ​
3
Proclaim with me the greatness of ADONAI; let us exalt his name together.

Testimony of God's Deliverance

4
I sought ADONAI, and he answered me; he rescued me from everything I feared.
5
They looked to him and grew radiant; their faces will never blush for shame.
6
This poor man cried; ADONAI heard and saved him from all his troubles. ​
7
The angel of ADONAI, who encamps around those who fear him, delivers them. ​

Exhortation to Taste and See

8
Taste, and see that ADONAI is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him! ​
9
Fear ADONAI, you holy ones of his, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10
Young lions can be needy, they can go hungry, but those who seek ADONAI lack nothing good. ​

The Path to a Blessed Life

11
Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of ADONAI. ​
12
Which of you takes pleasure in living? Who wants a long life to see good things?
13
[If you do,] keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceiving talk; ​
14
turn from evil, and do good; seek peace, go after it! ​
15
The eyes of ADONAI watch over the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
16
But the face of ADONAI opposes those who do evil, to cut off all memory of them from the earth. ​
17
[The righteous] cried out, and ADONAI heard, and he saved them from all their troubles.
18
ADONAI is near those with broken hearts; he saves those whose spirit is crushed. ​

Deliverance and Redemption

19
The righteous person suffers many evils, but ADONAI rescues him out of them all.
20
He protects all his bones; not one of them gets broken. ​
21
Evil will kill the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22
But ADONAI redeems his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. ​

Study Notes for Psalms 34

Verse 1

The superscription links this psalm to David's feigned madness before Achish (Abimelech) in Gath (1 Sam 21), demonstrating that praise should follow deliverance, even when achieved through desperate means.

Verse 2

Boasting in the Lord means relying on His character and power, not one's own achievements. This reliance brings joy to the 'humble' (or afflicted) who recognize their own need for God.

Verse 6

David refers to himself as the 'poor man' ('ani), emphasizing his helplessness and dependence on God during his distress, setting an example for all the afflicted.

Verse 7

The 'angel of the LORD' is often understood as a manifestation of God's presence or a divine messenger, providing active, spiritual protection for the faithful.

Verse 8

This is a call to experiential faith, urging the reader to personally test and discover God's goodness and reliability through practical trust, rather than mere intellectual assent.

Verse 10

This verse contrasts the struggle of powerful natural forces (young lions starving) with the boundless, reliable provision available to those who seek the Lord.

Verse 11

The psalmist adopts the role of a wisdom teacher or sage, addressing the audience as 'children' and instructing them in the 'fear of the LORD,' which is the foundation of true wisdom.

Verse 13

Righteous living begins with controlling one's speech, recognizing that the tongue is the primary instrument for expressing guile, slander, or truth.

Verse 14

This is the core ethical instruction of the psalm: actively moving away from evil and proactively pursuing good, reconciliation, and shalom (peace).

Verse 16

The 'face of the LORD is against' is a powerful theological image illustrating God's active, personalized opposition and judgment against those who persist in wickedness.

Verse 18

God’s proximity is not based on status or power, but on humility and repentance. A 'contrite spirit' means a crushed or remorseful heart, ready to submit to divine will.

Verse 20

This image signifies complete, protective deliverance, even physical preservation. It is cited in the New Testament concerning Christ's crucifixion (John 19:36) as a prophecy of the Messiah's perfect preservation.

Verse 22

The final affirmation of God's role as Redeemer (go'el), ensuring that those who trust Him will not be condemned or left desolate, contrasting sharply with the fate of the wicked.

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