Psalms 34 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

Bible Comments
  • Psalms 34:1-18 open_in_new

    Psalms 34:1. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    «Others may do what they please, and murmur, and complain, and be filled with dread and apprehension of the future; but I will bless the Lord at all times. I can always see something for which I ought to bless him. I can always see some good which will come out of blessing him. Therefore will I bless him at all times. And this.» says the Psalmist, «I will not only do in my heart, but I will do it with my tongue His praise shall continually be in my mouth,» that others may hear it, that others may begin to praise him, too, for murmuring is contagious, and so, thank God is praise; and one man may learn from another take the catchword and the keyword out of another man's mouth, and then begin to praise God with him. «His praise shall continually be in my mouth.» What a blessed mouthful! If some people had God's praises in their mouths, they would not so often have fault-finding with their fellow men. «If half the breath thus vainly spent» in finding fault with our fellow-Christians were spent in prayer and praise, how much happier, how much richer, we should be spiritually! «His praise shall continually be in my mouth.»

    Psalms 34:2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. Boasting is generally annoying. Even those that boast themselves cannot endure that other people should boast. But there is one kind of boasting that even the humble can bear to hear -nay they are glad to hear it. «The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.» That must be boasting in God a holy glorying and extolling the Most High with words sought out with care that might magnify his blessed name. You will never exaggerate when you speak good things of God. It is not possible to do so. Try, dear brethren, end even boast in the Lord. There are many poor, trembling, doubting, humble souls that can hardly tell whether they are the Lord's people or not, and are half afraid whether they shall be delivered in the hour of trouble, that will become comforted when they hear you boasting. «The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.» «Why,» says the humble soul, «God that helped that man can help me. He that brought him up through the deep waters, and landed him safely, can also take me through the river and through the sea, and give me final deliverance. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.»

    Psalms 34:3. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

    He cannot do enough of it himself. He wants others to come in and help him. First, he charges his own heart with the weighty and blessed business of praising God, and then he invites all around to unite with him in the sacred effort. «Magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt his name together.»

    Psalms 34:4. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

    That was David's testimony. That is mine. Brother, that is yours. Is it not? Sister, is not that yours too? Well, if you have such a blessed testimony, be sure to bear it. Often do you whisper it in the mourner's ear, «I sought the Lord. and he heard me.» Tell it in the scoffer's ear. When he says, «There is no God,» and that prayer is useless, say to him, «I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.» it is a pity that such a sweet encouraging profitable testimony should be kept back. Be sure at all proper times to make it known. But it is not merely ourselves. There are others who can speak well of God.

    Psalms 34:5. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

    And who were they? Why, all the people of God the whole company of the saints in heaven, and the saints on earth. It can be said of them all, «They looked to him, and were lightened.» As there is life in a look, so is there light in a look. Oh! you that looked to Christ and lived at first. Look to him again, if it is dark with you tonight, and speedily it shall be light round about you. «They looked unto him, and were lightened.»

    Psalms 34:6. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

    Who was he? He was a poor man any poor man nothing very particular about him, but he was poor a poor man. What did he do? He cried. That was the style of praying he adopted as a child cries the natural expression of pain. Poor man, he did not know how to pray a fine prayer, and he could not have preached you a sermon if you had given him a bishop's salary for it; but he cried. He could do that. You do not need to go to the Board School to learn how to cry. Any living child can cry. This poor man cried. What came of it? «The Lord heard him.» I do not suppose anybody else did; or if they did, they laughed at it. But it did not signify to him. The Lord heard him. And what came of that? He «saved him out of all his troubles.» Oh! is there a poor man here tonight in trouble! Had he not better copy the example of this other poor man? Let him cry to the Lord about it. Let him come and bring his burdens before the great One who hears poor men's prayers. And, no doubt, that poor man lived to tell the same tale as he who wrote this verse. «This poor man cried, and the Lord heard and saved him out of all his troubles.»

    Psalms 34:7. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

    It is no wonder, then, that they are delivered, for the angels are always handy. They are waiting round about God's people. Lo, they are not at a distance to fly swiftly and come for our rescue, but God has set a camp of angels round about all his people. Are we not royally attended? What a portion is ours! Many are they that be against us, but glorious are they that be for us, both in their number and their strength. But the text does not intend so mush-the angels, as one blessed, glorious, covenant angel the angel of the Lord, the messenger of God. He it is that holds his camp hard by his people, and sends his messengers for their rescue in all times of difficulty.

    Psalms 34:8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

    That is the language of experience. Some of us have lived by trusting God for many years, and, instead of growing weary of it, we would invite others to do the same. Oh! taste and see that the Lord is good. You cannot know his goodness without tasting it. But there was never a soul yet that did taste of the goodness of the Lord but what could bear cheerful testimony that it were even so. «Oh! taste and see.» Partake of it. Become practically acquainted with it. Trust God yourselves, and none of you shall ever have to complain of God. To your latest hour you will have to find fault with yourselves, but never once will you have to accuse of changeableness, or of unfaithfulness, or even of forgetfulness. «Oh! taste and see that the Lord is good, for blessed is the man that trusteth in him.»

    Psalms 34:9-10. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

    They are very strong, those young lions. They are fierce. They are rapacious. They are cunning. And yet they do lack and suffer hunger. And there are many men in this world that are very clever, strong in body, and active in mind. They say that they can take care of themselves, and perhaps they do appear to prosper; but we know that often they who are the most prosperous apparently are the most miserable of men. They are young lions, but they do lack and suffer hunger. But when a man's soul lives upon God. he may have very little of this world, but he will be perfectly content. He has learned the secret of true happiness. He does not want any good thing, for the things that he does not have he does not wish to have. He brings his mind down to his estate, if he cannot bring his estate to his mind. He is thankful to have a little spending money on the road, for his treasure is above. He likes to have his best things last, and so he is well content, if he has food and raiment, to urge on his way to the rest which remaineth for the people of God. «The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.»

    Psalms 34:11. Come, ye children,

    Ye that are beginning life you that want to know where true happiness is found

    Psalms 34:11. Hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

    It is that which you want to know, beyond everything else.

    Psalms 34:12-13. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

    He that can rule his tongue can rule his whole body. Alas! that unruly member destroys peace and happiness in thousands of cases. The tongue can no man tame, but the grace of God can tame it; and that man begins life with a prospect of happiness whose tongue has been tamed by grace.

    Psalms 34:14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

    True happiness is found in true holiness. «Depart from evil.» That is, do not go after it. But it is much more than that. Go away from it. Give it a wide berth. «Depart from evil.» But be not satisfied with the negatives. It is not enough to say, «I do not do any evil,» but do good. The only way to keep out the evil is to fill the soul full of good. We must be active in the cause of God, or Satan will soon move us into sin. «Depart from evil and do good.» «Seek peace.» Be of a quiet turn of mind. Be always ready to forgive. «Seek peace and pursue it.» That is, when it runs away, run after it. Make up your mind that you will have it. There are some that seek quarrels, There are some that seek revenge. As for you, seek peace and pursue it.

    Psalms 34:15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto heir cry.

    God is all eye and all ear, and all his eye and all his ear are for his people.

    Are you distressed in heart? God sees your distress. Are you crying in secret in the bitterness of your soul? God hears your cry. You are not alone. O lonely spirit, broken spirit, be not dismayed; be not given to despair. God is with you. If he sees nothing else, he will see you. «The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.» And if he hears no one else in the world, he will hear you «His ears are open to their cry.»

    Psalms 34:16. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

    You know what we say sometimes. «I set my face against such a thing as that.» Now God sets his face against them that do evil. You will come to an end, my friend. Your happiness, like a bubble painted with rainbow colors, may be the object of foolish desires; but in a little while it will burst and be gone, as the bubble is, and there will be nothing left of you. Even your remembrance will be wiped out from the face of the earth. What numbers of books have been written against God of which you could not gets copy now, except you went to a museum! What numbers of men have lived that have been scoffers; and they had great names amongst the circles of unbelievers, but they are quite forgotten now! But the Christian Church treasures up names of poor, simple-hearted Christian men and women treasures them up like jewels, and their fame is fresh after hundreds of years.

    Psalms 34:17. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

    That is how we live, if you want to know. God makes us righteous, and then we cry. We often praise him. We desire to have our mouth full of it. But we cry as well, and whenever we cry God hears, and our troubles are removed.

    Psalms 34:18. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

    Are you here tonight, poor weeping Mary? Are you here, brokenhearted, troubled sinner? Are you here? Are you seeking the Lord? Do not seek him any longer. You have got him. Read the text, «The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.» He is with you now. Speak to him; cry to him; trust him. You shall find deliverance this night.

    Psalms 34:19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous:

    You should hear some of them talk, and you would soon know that; for I know some of the righteous that seldom talk of anything else. «Oh! the badness of trade!» They have been losing money oh! ever since I knew them. They had not any when they started, but they have gone on losing money every year; and I believe they always will. And they always have pains of body. The weather is so bad. And they always have ungrateful friends. And the church they belong to is not up to the mark. Indeed, there is nothing around them that is right. «Many are the afflictions of the righteous.»

    Well now, dear brethren, as that is recorded in God's Word, and most of us have a pretty good acquaintance with that subject, I do not think that it is necessary for all of us to insist upon it every day. Could not we go on to the next part of the verse? «Many are the afflictions of the righteous,» but but

    Psalms 34:19. But the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

    Not out of some of them, but out of them all, however numerous they may be.

    Psalms 34:20. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

    He sustains no real injury. He gets flesh wounds and bruises, but his bones are not broken. That is to say, the substantial part of his nature is well kept and preserved.

  • Psalms 34:1-19 open_in_new

    The title of this Psalm is, «A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech (or, Achish); who drove him away, and he departed.» It relates to a sad scene in David's life when he had to feign madness in order to escape from his enemies; but I notice that, although the fact is recorded, yet David does not dwell upon it in the Psalm. He had acted as a fool or a madman, but he was not fool enough, or mad enough, to glory in his shame. I have heard some men, whose past lives have been very disgraceful, who, after their professed conversion, have seemed to make a boast of their sin. David does not do that, nor will any other right-minded person. Let us always be ashamed of our sin, even while we magnify the grace of God which has saved us from it. Though we may feel that it is needful to mention it in order to encourage others to hope in the mercy of God, yet we must take care that we never even seem to dwell upon it with any kind of gusto. Thus the Psalm begins:-

    Psalms 34:1. I will bless the LORD at all times:

    «Whether the times are dark or light, whether I feel well or ill, whether the Lord deals with me graciously or severely, I will bless him at all times.»

    Psalms 34:1. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    What a blessed mouthful! If we could but carry out this resolve of David, we should not find so much fault with others as we often do. We shall have little or no opportunity for grumbling and murmuring if praise to Jehovah shall continually be in our mouth.

    Psalms 34:2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:

    All men are more or less given to boasting but it seems to be specially characteristic of Englishmen and Americans. Well, there is a right way of boasting; if you can truly say, «My soul shall make her boast in the Lord,» you may boast away as much as you like.

    Psalms 34:2. The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

    Any other kind of boasting makes humble people sad; but when we boast in the Lord, the more we boast the more the humble rejoice.

    Psalms 34:3. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

    Let each one of us throw his stone upon the cairn to make the heap as high as possible, for every one has some peculiar cause for gratitude and thanksgiving.

    Psalms 34:4. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears,

    It was a very poor way of seeking the Lord when he had got into the hand of the Philistines, and was planning in his own mind a disgraceful way of escaping from them. It was not that calm quiet calling upon God that one would have liked to see in David. Still, God heard him, and that makes the deliverance all the more wonderful.

    Psalms 34:5. They looked unto him.

    «All these people that have come at my call to join me in praising the Lord: «They looked unto him,»

    Psalms 34:5. And were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

    No, not one of them; if they looked to God, light shone from God upon their faces, and their faces glowed with the holy radiance, so they had no reason to be ashamed.

    Psalms 34:6-7. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

    David's deliverance had been so special that he could not help feeling that some special deliverer had been employed on his behalf; «the angel of the Lord» had been sent to his help. Then David, why did you act like a madman? Ah! that was through his want of faith, yet even want of faith must not make us rob God of his glory. What though we were unbelieving, he was faithful, therefore let us give him his due meet of praise. Let us try to blot out the remembrance of our own weakness with our tears, but let us not erase the memory of God's lovingkindness to us.

    Psalms 34:8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

    You may not only believe that God is good, but it may become a matter of experience with you: «O taste and see that the Lord is good.» You cannot see the goodness of God to perfection without tasting it, so use the sense of taste as well as that of sight. Some people want first to see, and then to taste, but David says, «Taste and see.»

    Psalms 34:9-10. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there its no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack,-

    They are strong, cunning, ravenous, yet they «do lack,»

    Psalms 34:10. And suffer hunger:

    They try to take care of themselves, and therefore they get badly taken care of.

    Psalms 34:10. But they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

    When God takes care of us, we are well taken care of, though we are not lions, but sheep; for we have a Shepherd, and the lions have not, so we «shall not want any good thing.»

    Psalms 34:11. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

    I should not wonder but that, when David played the madman, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, the children in the streets gathered round him, and mocked him. Wherever we have done harm to any, let us try to do them good. So did David; he sought to gather the children about his knees, and to talk to them: «Come, ye children.» He does not begin by saying, «Stand off, ye children.» There would be no teaching them in that way; you must seek to draw them to yourselves if you would draw them to your Lord. «Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.» Though David had been anointed king, he remained a teacher of children, and the highest honour we can have is, for Christ's sake, to teach the little ones. Children love bright, happy teaching; they naturally desire life and happiness; so David begins:-

    Psalms 34:12-13. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

    Children's tongues are very active, and they need to be reminded that their tongues must be sanctified or they will say what is evil. David had both spoken and acted with guile at the court of Achish, so he particularly dwelt upon that matter. «Depart from evil,» run away from it; not merely do not do it, but get away from it: «Depart from evil, and do good.»

    Psalms 34:15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous,

    He does not merely give a glance at them now and then, but his eyes rest on them, he is always watching them.

    Psalms 34:15. And his ears are open unto their cry.

    The translators put in the words «are open,» but they were not needed.

    Psalms 34:16. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil,-

    You know what we mean when we say, «I set my face against it.» So God sets his face against the wicked. Note how near both the righteous and the wicked are to an observing God. In the first case, his eyes are upon the righteous; in the second, his face «is against them that do evil,»

    Psalms 34:16. To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

    He will stamp them out as men do with fire. He will not even let them be remembered; he will take means to ensure that their unholy example shall die with them.

    Psalms 34:17. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

    That is something to teach the children, teach them from your own experience, that God does hear and answer prayer; teach them to pray to God always, and to believe that prayer has real and beneficial results: «The Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.»

    Psalms 34:18. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

    We often hear of people who die of a broken heart; but here we read about people who live with a broken heart, and it is the best way of living too, with a heart that is broken for sin, and broken from sin, a heart that in every portion of it feels the power of God.

    Psalms 34:19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous:-

    Do not tell the children that the good are always happy, and that the good escape trial, because you will deceive them if you do. «Many are the afflictions of the righteous,» the happiness, the glory, the heaven of the righteous is not here, but hereafter. «Many are the afflictions of the righteous»:-

    Psalms 34:19. But-

    Blessed «but»

    Psalms 34:19. The LORD delivereth him out of them all.

    Not only out of some of them, but «out of them all.» The righteous do not get out of them by their own power, but the Lord delivereth them; they have a Divine Helper.

    Psalms 34:20. He keepeth all his bones. Not one of them is broken.

    The righteous may have skin wounds, and flesh wounds, but they shall not suffer any real hurt. God will not let his people be so injured as to be incapable of holiness. There shall be no bone-breaking in Christ's mystical body, even as not one of the bones of Christ was broken.

    Psalms 34:21. Evil shall slay the wicked:

    Sin itself shall slaughter them.

    Psalms 34:21-22. And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

  • Psalms 34:1-20 open_in_new

    Psalms 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    What a sweet resolve! Oh, that every one of us who knows the Lord would make that resolve, and keep it all our days: «I will bless the Lord at all times;» in dark times and bright times, as long as ever I live. «His praise shall continually be in my mouth;» that is the most delightful mouthful that a man can possibly have.

    Psalms 34:2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:

    We do not like boasters, but we would encourage every child of God to boast in the Lord as much as he pleases.

    Psalms 34:2. The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

    There is nothing that humble people dislike more than to hear others boasting: yet there is nothing that they like more than to hear anyone boast in the Lord.

    Psalms 34:3. O magnify the LORD with me-

    There is a sweet contagion about the praise of God, we want others to help us to spread it everywhere, so we say, with David, «O magnify the Lord with me,»

    Psalms 34:3-4. And let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

    There is nothing that is so effective as personal testimony to the Lord's saving power. How often is the skill of a physician commended by the grateful testimony of the patients who have been healed by him! So, shall not the prayer-hearing God be commended by those of us who have had our prayers answered by him? Let us not be slow to say, «I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.»

    Psalms 34:5. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

    «They looked unto him,» a whole army of them, an innumerable company, «They looked unto him and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.» There never was a face that was ashamed of being turned Christward and Godward.

    Psalms 34:6. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

    Here David speaks of himself again, but he refers to himself in the third person: «This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.»

    Psalms 34:7. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

    The great Angel of the covenant, the Lord Jesus Christ, surrounds with his army the dwellings of the saints, and takes care to have them in safe keeping.

    Psalms 34:8-10. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

    We are often in want because we are not seeking the Lord, but are seeking what we think we want, whereas, if we sought him, and left the supply of our wants to him, he would supply all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Christ's command is, «Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.» Men think that they will not get what they want except they seek it, but if they seek God, he will give them what they really need even if he does not give them all that they want.

    Psalms 34:11. Come, ye children, hearken unto me:

    This man of God has made his confession to the saints, and now he tells it out to the children. There is nothing like working on material that will last, and those who are now children will most of them be alive when those who are now old men are dead and gone. So David says, «Come ye children, hearken unto me:»

    Psalms 34:11-13. I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

    There is life or death in the human tongue; there is life in the tongue that is under subjection to the will of God, there is death, there is mischief of all sorts, in a wild ungoverned tongue.

    Psalms 34:14. Depart from evil, and do good;

    Get away from evil as far as you can; that is the negative side. Do good, that is the positive side of piety. He who obeys these two commands shall find happiness and blessing.

    Psalms 34:14. Seek peace, and pursue it.

    Do not be of an angry, irritable, quarrelsome frame of mind. If you do not at once find peace, seek it; and if it runs away from you, pursue it until you overtake it. Remember that it is the meek who shall inherit the earth, and that it is the peaceful spirit that is the happiest spirit.

    Psalms 34:15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

    He gives them his eyes and his ears, and this means that he gives them himself, and that he is ever ready to perceive their needs, and to hear their cries.

    Psalms 34:16. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil,

    He sets his face against them, and this means that he is himself eternally opposed to all their wicked ways.

    Psalms 34:16-17. To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

    Not only out of some of them, but out of all of them. It is often a very long «all.» The list of their troubles is often difficult to read through but in due time there comes a «finis» to it written by the hand of divine mercy: «The Lord delivereth them out of all their troubles.»

    Psalms 34:18. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

    Not your proud spirits, not your hectoring ones; but your lowly, penitent souls are the ones that are dear unto the heart of God, he is nigh unto them, and saveth them.

    Psalms 34:19-20. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

    He will have many a flesh wound, but there shall be no permanent injury to him; and even though his body were diseased, his soul would be saved.

    Psalms 34:21-22. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants:

    Great as the price is, he pays it; they are so precious to him that he minds not what price he pays so that he may redeem the souls of his servants.

    Psalms 34:22. And none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

    Blessed be his holy name!

  • Psalms 34:1-21 open_in_new

    «A psalm of David when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.» It was a very painful exhibition, and one in which David does not shine but in which, nevertheless, the providence and grace of God are very conspicuous, and it is very pleasant to find a man of God penning such words as these after his escape.

    Psalms 34:1. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    After any very great deliverance we feel prompted to special gratitude, and it appears to us as if we never should leave off praising God. I wish that perpetuity were real, but, alas! it often happens that the next cloud that sweeps the skies brings back our doubting, and our fearing, and our song is over. It ought not so to be. Our heart's resolve should be, «I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.»

    Psalms 34:2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:

    What is there else to boast about? But what a proper subject for boasting the Lord is, because it is legitimate boasting? We can never exaggerate we can never speak too well or think too well of God. He is high above our thoughts, when they are at the best, so that we may make them as big as we may, and we shall never be guilty of extravagance here.

    Psalms 34:2. The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

    Humble souls cannot, generally, endure boasting, but boasting in God is very sweet to them. He that will make God great will always be a choice favorite with a broken spirit. Those that are little in themselves delight to hear of the glory of God.

    Psalms 34:3. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

    It is too grand a theme for one. One little heart can scarcely feel it all One feeble tongue cannot tell it out. Come, then, ye saints that know his name, magnify the Lord with me.

    Psalms 34:4. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

    Blessed be his name for this. Are there not many of you, dear friends, who can bear the same testimony personal proof of a prayer-hearing God? You tried him, for you sought him. You tried him, and you found him true, for he delivered you from all your fears.

    Psalms 34:5. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

    Only a look, and their burden was gone. Only a look! What great things hang on little things! Faith is but a look, yet it brings life, pardon, salvation. Heaven comes that way. Only a look!

    Psalms 34:6-7. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

    The angel of the Lord does not merely come to help his people, but he stays with them. He encampeth. He has pitched his tent, for he means to tarry. The guardians of God forsake not their charge. They encamp about them that fear him, for their deliverance.

    Psalms 34:8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

    It is the grandest of benedictions. It is the sum and substance of the gospel. «Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.» By the way of works we are cursed but by the way of believing we are blest. Are you trusting? Dear heart, are you trusting? Is it a feeble trust? Are you often much tried and distressed? Yet if you are trusting, you are blessed. God pronounces you so; and do not let your faith waver about it, or suffer the Devil to tell you that you are accursed, for you cannot be. You are blessed.

    Psalms 34:9. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

    Sometimes their wishes are not granted, but there is no real want. They shall have all necessaries, if they do not have all luxuries.

    Psalms 34:10. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:

    Strong as they are, and crafty as they are, they howl, because of their hunger, sometimes.

    Psalms 34:10. But they that seek the LORD

    Though they have no craft, and no courage, and no strength, and no foresight.

    Psalms 34:10. Shall not want any good thing.

    Plead that, tried child of God. Plead it: plead it. If you are in want tonight if you are in any form of need plead this gracious word.

    Psalms 34:11. Come, ye children hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

    A Sunday School teacher's text. Gather the children close to you. Say, «Come near me. I would be familiar with you.» It was a king who spoke these words, and yet he delighted to say, «Come ye children.» Win their attention. «Hearken unto me.» If they do not hear, how shall they understand? «And I will teach you the fear of the Lord.» That is your subject pure religion heart religion spiritual religion. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.»

    Psalms 34:12. What man is he that desireth life,

    What man is he that does not desire life? Love of it is innate in us all.

    Psalms 34:12-13. And loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile.

    He begins with one of the hardest practical duties of the fear of God for he that bridleth his tongue is able also be bridle the whole body. The tongue is such an unruly member that if that be kept and only through grace can it be so then we may be quite certain that all the other organs and faculties will be kept, too.

    Psalms 34:14. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

    A great deal packed away into a small compass there. There is the negative «Depart from evil,» and the positive which must go with it, «Do good.» And if you do not do good, you will soon do evil. And then there is that blessed precept «Seek peace.» Hunt after it, if you cannot spy it out, and if it runs away from you, follow it pursue it hunt after it till you gain it. A peaceable life is a happy life.

    Psalms 34:15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous,

    He watches them. He loves them too well to let them ever be out of his sight. He views them with complacency. He regards them with affection. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.

    Psalms 34:15. And his ears are open unto their cry.

    Ready to hear their feeblest prayer the cry of their pain their distress. His ears are always open.

    Psalms 34:16. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil,

    Sets his face against them.

    Psalms 34:16-17. To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

    Here is an explanation of the experience of the believer first, prayer; then God's bearing, and then deliverance. Who would not pray who has found prayer to be so effectual with God

    Psalms 34:18-19. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

    The first line seemed to have something terrible in it: «Many are the afflictions of the righteous», but there is a blessed «but» that comes in thrown like the tree into Marah's bitter stream to sweeten it all.

    Psalms 34:20-21. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked:

    Their own evil shall be their destruction. They need nothing more than to be suffered to go on in sin. Sin is hell. The fire of corruption is the fire of perdition. Evil shall slay the wicked.

    Psalms 34:21-22. And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

    How grandly does David preach the gospel! We need not look to Paul to learn salvation by faith. The Psalms are full of it. We have had it just before. «Blessed is the man that trusteth in him»; and now, again, «None of them that trust in him shall be desolate.» They are sinful, but they shall not be desolate. They often feel as if they were utterly unworthy, but they shall not be desolate. They are, sometimes downcast, but they shall not be desolate. They may be hunted by trials, and afflictions, and temptations of the Devil, but they shall not be desolate. They may come to the bed of pain, and to the chamber of death, but they shall not be desolate. They shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ, but they shall not be desolate not one of them, for it is written, «None of them that trust in him shall be desolate.»

  • Psalms 34:1-22 open_in_new

    Psalms 34:1. I will bless the LORD at all times:

    «At dark times, and bright times when I am alone, and when I am in company; when I feel like doing it and when I do not feel like doing it: ‘I will bless the Lord at all times.'»

    Psalms 34:1. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    «I will not only feel it in my heart, but I will give expression to it with my mouth. Those who do not care for this blessed employment may leave it alone; but as for me, ‘his praise shall continually be in my mouth.'»

    Psalms 34:2. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

    «I will ride the high horse when I begin to talk of the goodness of God: ‘My soul shall make her boast in the Lord;' and whereas boasters are generally very vexatious to humble-minded people, this kind of boasting shall please them: ‘the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.'»

    Psalms 34:3. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

    Come, my brethren and sisters, I cannot perform this happy service alone; it is too much for me all by myself. This bunch of grapes is too heavy to be carried by one. «O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.»

    Psalms 34:4. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

    Should not the prayer-hearing God be praised? If he hears the cries of his people, should he not also hear the praises of his people? It is not one only to whom God has thus listened, but many can say with the psalmist, «I sought the Lord, and he heard me.»

    Psalms 34:5-6. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

    It is God's delight to hear the cry of poor men. Sometimes, he passes by the rich and great, and gives heed to the poor and desolate. It is our need that has the loudest cry with God; if our necessities are urgent, our prayer will be powerful.

    Psalms 34:7. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

    God's children are always attended like princes, legions of angels form their body-guard. The angel of the Lord, and companies of holy angels with him, pitch their celestial tents round about them that fear God.

    Psalms 34:8. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

    Do try him, dear friends, and prove for yourselves how good and gracious he is: «O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.»

    «Oh, make but trial of his love;

    Experience will decide

    How blest are they, and only they,

    Who in his truth confide!»

    Psalms 34:9. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

    He will supply all their wants. You need not fear for anything else when once you fear God.

    Psalms 34:10. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:

    They are strong, and fierce, and crafty, and unscrupulous, yet still they suffer hunger:

    Psalms 34:10. But they that seek the LORD; shall not want any good thing.

    Though they be neither cruel, nor cunning, nor strong, «they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.» What a promise for you to plead in prayer, dear friends! If you are in any need, do not hesitate, but by an act of faith take this gracious word, and plead it with the promise-keeping God: «Hast thou not said that, ‘they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing'? Then, Lord, do as thou hast said.»

    Psalms 34:11-13. Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

    He who can manage his tongue can manage his whole body; for the tongue is the rudder of the ship, and if that be properly held, the vessel will be rightly steered. If thou wouldst escape the quicksands and the rocks, look well to thy tongue; keep it from evil, that it speak neither blasphemy against God nor slander against thy fellow men; and keep thy lips from guile, that is, from deceit, from double meanings, from saying one thing and meaning another, or making other people think that you mean another, an art all too well understood in these days. God make us plain-speaking men, who say what we mean, and mean what we say! When, by the grace of God, we are taught to do this, we have learnt a good lesson.

    Psalms 34:14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

    If it runs away from you, run after it. Never run into or after a quarrel, but always run after peace: «Seek peace, and pursue it.»

    Psalms 34:15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

    The Lord is always watching them, and he is always listening that he may hear everything they say, especially when they cry unto him.

    Psalms 34:16. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

    He will not only destroy the wicked, but he will blot out the very memory of them. They may become great and famous in their wickedness, but they shall not be kept in memory, as the righteous are. As Solomon says, «The name of the wicked shall rot.»

    Psalms 34:17-18. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

    Men do not care for broken hearts, but God does. «Give me a sound heart and a brave heart,» says man. «Give me a broken and a contrite heart,» says the Lord. If you have such a heart as that, be not afraid to draw near to your God, through Jesus Christ, for he is already nigh unto you.

    Psalms 34:19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

    Many who read this verse admit that the first part of it is true: «Many are the afflictions of the righteous.» Yes, but the latter clause is also true: «but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.» Do not omit either portion of the passage, for one part is as true as the other.

    Psalms 34:20. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

    God's people shall suffer no real, lasting, vital injury. You may have flesh wounds, but as to the bones of your spirit, as it were, the solid part of it, «not one of them is broken.»

    Psalms 34:21. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

    They shall want nothing else to make an end of them but their own sins:

    «Evil shall slay the wicked.»

    Psalms 34:22. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

    Now we are going to read the last chapter of the Book of the prophet Hosea, the first of the minor prophets.

    This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 34:1; and Hosea 14:1.