Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

Ps 34 This wisdom psalm includes a thanksgiving hymn (34:1-7) that celebrates the Lord’s care for and protection of godly sufferers. It also includes an invitation to wisdom (34:8-14) and an exposition of wisdom concerning the Lord’s care for the needy and the suffering of the wicked (34:15-22).

34:title Abimelech is another name for Achish (see 1 Sam 21:10-15). The body of the psalm makes no explicit connection to this event.

34:1-3 The psalmist exhorts the helpless to join him in praise.

Verse 5

34:5-6 The psalmist narrates his experiences of answered prayer.

Verse 7

34:7 The angel of the Lord represented the Lord’s presence during the wilderness journey. He protected Israel from the forces of Egypt (Exod 14:19-20), and he will guard all the godly (Ps 91:11).

Verse 8

34:8-14 The godly encourage everyone to seek wisdom, to fear the Lord, and to place themselves under the protection of the Lord’s angel.

Verse 9

34:9-10 Fear of the Lord includes reverence and respect, and it motivates a life of wisdom (see Prov 1:7; 9:10).

Verse 11

34:11-13 Wisdom contains three components: fearing the Lord (34:11), doing good (34:14), and rejecting evil (34:13).

34:11 Anyone who listens, even children, can become wise followers of God.

Verse 12

34:12-16 Peter quotes this passage in his instructions for peaceful living (1 Pet 3:10-12).

Verse 13

34:13 Godly people control their words; speaking evil and telling lies are foolish (see 10:7; cp. 17:1).

Verse 14

34:14 The way of peace leads to harmony and order, whereas evil destroys them (see 37:11).

Verse 15

34:15-16 The Lord distinguishes between wise and foolish people; he shows his concern for the wise by rescuing them from trouble (34:15, 17-20), but he destroys the foolish (34:16, 21).

Verse 18

34:18 Those who are brokenhearted possess a spirit of deep contrition and dependence on the Lord. God accepts this spirit as a proper sacrifice (51:17). The wicked hate the brokenhearted (109:16), but the Lord heals them (147:3; see Isa 57:15; 61:1).

Verse 19

34:19-22 The godly might suffer, but the Lord will reward them in the end. Similarly, the wicked might prosper for a time, but ultimately they will perish (1:6; 34:15-16).

Verse 20

34:20 Bones represent a person’s entire being (see 6:2). • not one of them is broken: John applied this statement to Jesus at the crucifixion (John 19:36).