David
Psalm 34
A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.
Scripture (KJV)
1I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
18The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
22The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Summary
Psalm 34 is an acrostic of thanksgiving tied to a low moment in David’s life—feigning madness before Abimelech to escape death. From that desperate episode comes a psalm of relentless praise and pastoral invitation. David resolves to bless the Lord "at all times" and calls the humble to magnify God with him. He testifies that when he sought the Lord, God heard and delivered him from all his fears, and he extends the promise to others: "O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
The psalm is especially tender toward the suffering. Verse 18— "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit"—is quoted by Jesus in the Beatitudes spirit and offers profound comfort. Verse 19 honestly admits "many are the afflictions of the righteous" while insisting the Lord delivers out of them all. The major themes are praise, trust, deliverance, comfort, and God’s nearness. Practically, the psalm invites us to turn praise into a habit and to bring our brokenness to a God who is near. The great lesson is that the Lord is good to all who taste and see.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 34
Lord, I will bless You at all times; Your praise shall continually be in my mouth. I sought You, and You heard me and delivered me from all my fears. Make my boast in You, that the humble may hear and be glad. Encamp Your angel around me as one who fears You. Help me taste and see that You are good, and teach me to trust You more. Draw near to my broken heart and save my contrite spirit. Though many are my afflictions, deliver me out of them all. Redeem my soul, and let none who trust in You be desolate—least of all me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1What would it look like to bless the Lord "at all times"?
- 2When have I tasted and seen that the Lord is good?
- 3Where do I need His nearness to a broken heart right now?
- 4How can I invite others to magnify the Lord with me?
Related Psalms
Psalm 25
“Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”
An acrostic prayer for guidance, forgiveness, and deliverance.
Read morePsalm 37
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.”
Trust, delight, and wait; the meek inherit the land.
Read morePsalm 145
“I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.”
Psalm 145 is an acrostic of praise, the only psalm titled "David’s Psalm of praise," and the gateway to the final doxology of the Psalter (Psalms 145-150).
Read morePsalm 9
“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.”
Thanksgiving for God’s righteous judgment and a refuge for the oppressed.
Read morePsalm 111
“Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.”
Psalm 111 is an acrostic hymn of praise that extols the works of the Lord as great, honorable, glorious, and eternal.
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