«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.»