Tag Archives: Biblical

Thoughts on Psalm 34

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. – Psa. 34:1-3

Human responsibility: Bless, praise, boast, hear, magnify, exalt

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Fear God and there’s nothing else to fear.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Jesus perfectly supplies every provision.

11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man 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 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

Here is the fruit of fearing the Lord: Life. Many days. Seeing good. Clean words. Pure lips. Departing evil. Doing good. Seeking peace. Pursuing peace. It all begins with fear of the Lord.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The attentiveness of the Lord.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

The Lord hears, delivers, is near, and saves.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

We are not promised comfort, but affliction. However, the Lord delivers, guards, and redeems.

A People Yet To Be

“This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD” – Psa. 102:18

Point our children toward faith in meaningful ways.

God’s Jewels

“They shall be Mine on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.” – God (Mal. 3:17)

Who is God speaking of as His “jewels?” Redeemed sinners.

The Very Hairs Of Your Head

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” – Jesus (Matt. 10:30)

What a promise is this! All that befalls you, to the very numbering of your hairs–is known to God! 

They Will Eat the Fruit of Their Actions

“Say to the righteous that it will go well for them, For they will eat the fruit of their actions.” – Isa. 3:10

Men receive in themselves the recompense of their deeds.

The righteous raise their moral nature, become better, and, in becoming better, become happier.

The wicked lower their moral nature, become worse, and, in becoming worse, become miserable.

Through the Mercy of the Most High

“For the king trusts in the Lord,
And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.” – Psa. 21:7

Here is the true hierarchy.

Save, Lord!

“Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.” – Psa. 20:9

God saves. God answers.

Our King will deliver us through His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Some Trust

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” – Psa. 20:7

We do not trust in Man or things of Man, but in God alone.

To Be Content

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” – Phil. 4:11

True contentment is found only in knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

His Blood Paid Our Debt

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” – 1 Cor. 6:20

His blood paid our debt.