Psalms Reading – 2.2.2022
Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones not one of them will be broken.
20 he protects all his bones not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
This is the fifth of fourteen psalms with a historical title linked to David’s life. It speaks of the time in David’s life when he fled from Saul to the city of Gath. While there, David pretended to be insane because he feared the Philistines who discovered who he was. The story becomes humorous when David acted like a madman marking up the gates’ doors and letting saliva run down his beard. The king said, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me?” (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
However, this psalm portrays anything but a madman’s words. David praises God for deliverance from his troubles in verses 1-7 and then instructs the people to learn the proper fear of the Lord in verses 8-14. In the verses that follow, he affirms that the Lord is a tender, watchful caretaker of those who seek refuge in him. Because of the instruction that David offers, it is understood to be a wisdom psalm.
Here are a few of the great lines in the psalm: “His praise will always be on my lips… Those who look to Him are radiant… He delivered me from all my fears… The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him… Taste and see that the Lord is good… Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing… The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous… His ears are attentive to their cry… The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Are there others you would add to the list?
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
What promise or principle do you need to claim and pray from this psalm today?