Psalms 34
FBMeyerPsalms 34:1-10
“ Magnify the Lord with Me” Psalms 34:1-10 The event associated with this psalm is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-15. It was not a very creditable incident. David, however, realized the goodness of God, notwithstanding his own failures and mistakes. In the original the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalms 34:1 : At all times… continually. It is a sign of great grace to bless always, in dark as well as bright days. Psalms 34:3 : “ Birds,” says Trapp, “ when they come to a full heap of corn, will chirp to call their fellows.” Psalms 34:4-6 : All the time David was feigning madness, his soul was going out to God in prayer. Psalms 34:7 : Compare Acts 12:6-10. Psalms 34:8 : Some experiences must be enjoyed to be understood. There are not words adequate to tell of them. Psalms 34:10 : “ We will leave thee nothing!” said plundering soldiers to a widow. “ I care not,” returned she. “ I shall not want so long as God is in the heavens.” Columba-an early Celtic missionary-spent his last afternoon in transcribing this psalm, saying when He reached Psalms 34:10 : “ I will stop here. The following verse will better suit My successor.”
This poor man criedThe event which this Psalm celebrates is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-15. The association with Achish was not a very creditable incident. David realizes the goodness of God, in spite of his own failures and mistakes. The Psalm clearly fails into two divisions, the first ending at Psalms 34:10. In the original the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalms 34:1 At all times . . . continually. It is a sign of great grace to bless, in dark times as well as in bright.
Psalms 34:3 Let us exalt His name!. We learn from 1 Samuel 22:9-11, who they were to whom David spoke. “Birds,” says Trapp, “when they come to a full heap of corn, will chirp and call in their fellows.” Charity is no churl.
Psalms 34:4-6 This poor man cried. While feigning madness, his soul was going up in prayer. We can never turn our faces to God to be disappointed.
Psalms 34:7 The Angel of the Lord. Compare Acts 12:6-10.
Psalms 34:8 Oh, taste and see. Some experiences must be realized before they can be understood. Even then they cannot be expressed: the rapture is unspeakable. But however rich the provision of God’s goodness, it will avail nothing until we open eye and mouth.
Psalms 34:10 They that seek . . . shall not want. “We will leave thee nothing,” said plundering soldiers to a widow, “to put in thee or on thee.” “I care not,” said she: “I shall not want as long as God is in the heavens.” Columba spent his last afternoon in transcribing this Psalm, saying when he reached this verse, “I will stop here. The following verse will better suit my successor.”
Psalms 34:11-14 Hearken unto me!. The purport of this exhortation is well summed up by Peter in his First Epistle (1 Peter 3:10). We need not fret to defend ourselves or answer false accusations. Let us refrain our lips and go on doing what is right and good. So shall we find our needs supplied, our enemies silenced and our soul redeemed.
Psalms 34:15 The righteous. Those who stand before God accepted in the Righteous one and in whose hearts his Spirit is working righteousness.
Psalms 34:17 Delivereth them. Not kept from it, but delivered out of it (2 Corinthians 1:10).
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is nigh. You may not realize it, oh brokenhearted sufferer, but the great Gardener passes by those who are standing erect, to stoop over thee, beaten down by the storm and trailing on the ground. He comes where He is most needed.
Psalms 34:20 He keepeth all his bones. The literal fulfilment of these words must be sought in John 19:36. But there is a sense in which the integrity of our bodily health is due to the perpetual exercise of God’s care.
Psalms 34:22 The Lord redeemeth. All through these latter verses it is good to note the present tenses of our God’s deliverances.
Psalms 34:11-22
the Salvation of the Contrite Psalms 34:11-22 Psalms 34:11-14 : The gist of this exhortation is quoted by Peter in his first Epistle. See 1 Peter 3:10. We need not fret to defend ourselves or to answer false accusations. Let us refrain our lips, hold our peace, as Jesus did, and go on doing what is right and good. God will see to it that our needs are supplied, that our enemies are silenced, and that our soul is redeemed. Psalms 34:15 : Do you feel unable to claim the designation of righteous? Remember that Paul was glad to reject his own, that he might be clad in Another’ s righteousness. That still avails for us. See Philippians 3:9. Psalms 34:17 : We are not kept from trouble, but delivered out of it. Psalms 34:20 : You do not recognize Him, but the Great Gardener passes by the plants that have braved the wind and storm to bend over you who are beaten to the earth. See the literal fulfillment of this in John 19:36. How much we owe to God’ s continuous care! Psalms 34:22 : Observe the present tenses in which the psalmist records God’ s redeeming love. It never grows old.
This poor man criedThe event which this Psalm celebrates is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:1-15. The association with Achish was not a very creditable incident. David realizes the goodness of God, in spite of his own failures and mistakes. The Psalm clearly fails into two divisions, the first ending at Psalms 34:10. In the original the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalms 34:1 At all times . . . continually. It is a sign of great grace to bless, in dark times as well as in bright.
Psalms 34:3 Let us exalt His name!. We learn from 1 Samuel 22:9-11, who they were to whom David spoke. “Birds,” says Trapp, “when they come to a full heap of corn, will chirp and call in their fellows.” Charity is no churl.
Psalms 34:4-6 This poor man cried. While feigning madness, his soul was going up in prayer. We can never turn our faces to God to be disappointed.
Psalms 34:7 The Angel of the Lord. Compare Acts 12:6-10.
Psalms 34:8 Oh, taste and see. Some experiences must be realized before they can be understood. Even then they cannot be expressed: the rapture is unspeakable. But however rich the provision of God’s goodness, it will avail nothing until we open eye and mouth.
Psalms 34:10 They that seek . . . shall not want. “We will leave thee nothing,” said plundering soldiers to a widow, “to put in thee or on thee.” “I care not,” said she: “I shall not want as long as God is in the heavens.” Columba spent his last afternoon in transcribing this Psalm, saying when he reached this verse, “I will stop here. The following verse will better suit my successor.”
Psalms 34:11-14 Hearken unto me!. The purport of this exhortation is well summed up by Peter in his First Epistle (1 Peter 3:10). We need not fret to defend ourselves or answer false accusations. Let us refrain our lips and go on doing what is right and good. So shall we find our needs supplied, our enemies silenced and our soul redeemed.
Psalms 34:15 The righteous. Those who stand before God accepted in the Righteous one and in whose hearts his Spirit is working righteousness.
Psalms 34:17 Delivereth them. Not kept from it, but delivered out of it (2 Corinthians 1:10).
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is nigh. You may not realize it, oh brokenhearted sufferer, but the great Gardener passes by those who are standing erect, to stoop over thee, beaten down by the storm and trailing on the ground. He comes where He is most needed.
Psalms 34:20 He keepeth all his bones. The literal fulfilment of these words must be sought in John 19:36. But there is a sense in which the integrity of our bodily health is due to the perpetual exercise of God’s care.
Psalms 34:22 The Lord redeemeth. All through these latter verses it is good to note the present tenses of our God’s deliverances.