Psalms 34:1 - Meaning and Application

The title of this psalm tells us who wrote it and when he wrote it. David, driven from his own country by Saul’s rage, looked for safety as close to home as he could, in Philistine territory. There he was recognized and brought before the king, called Achish in the story, which was his personal name, and Abimelech here, which seems to have been his title. Fearing that he would be treated as a spy, David pretended to be insane, so Achish would dismiss him as a harmless man rather than deal with him as a threat.

We cannot defend David’s deception. It was wrong for an honest man to pretend to be what he was not, and wrong for a man of honor to act like a fool. If we mock people who have less understanding than we think we have, we should remember that God could easily have allowed us to be in their place. Yet we cannot help admiring how calm David remained inside. Even in that danger, his heart was fixed on God, and he wrote this psalm, which shows a mind that is settled and steady.

This psalm is also carefully arranged. It is an alphabetical psalm, meaning each verse begins with the Hebrew letters in order. That kind of structure shows how well David kept his composure and his faith active, even when he had reason to act strangely. Happy are those who can keep their temper and keep trusting God when pressure tempts them to behave badly.

In this first part of the psalm, David stirs himself up to praise God. Though he had sinned in changing his behavior, it was still God’s mercy that he escaped. And because God did not deal with him according to what his deception deserved, David knew he must give thanks in everything. He decides, first, that he will praise God all the time, on every occasion. He plans to keep set times for this duty, to seize every opportunity, and to renew his praise whenever God gives him fresh reasons to thank him. If we hope to spend eternity praising God, it is right to spend as much of our present time as we can in that work.

Second, he will praise God openly. “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” David wanted others to see how gladly he owned God’s mercy, and he wanted to make them aware of their own duty to do the same. Third, he will praise God from the heart. “My soul shall boast in the Lord,” meaning in his relationship with God, his share in God, and the hope he has from God. It is no pride to boast in the Lord.

David then invites others to join him. He expects the humble to hear of his deliverance and his thankfulness and to be glad that a good man received such favor and that God received such honor. Humble people take the most comfort in God’s mercies to others and to themselves, because they trust least in their own worth or strength. David was glad to think that God’s kindness to him would cheer every Israelite heart.

He wants us to agree with him in three things. First, we should have great thoughts of God and show them by magnifying him and exalting his name (Psalms 34:3). We cannot make God greater than he is, but when we honor him as infinitely great, he counts that as magnifying him. We should do this together. God’s praises sound best in a group, just as the angels praise him in heaven. Those who share God’s favor should join in his praise, and we should be just as glad for friends to help us give thanks as to help us pray.

We have reason to thank God for his readiness to hear prayer, something all his people have known. He has never said to any of them, “Seek me in vain.” David himself can testify that God hears prayer (Psalms 34:4). He sought the Lord in his distress, asked for help, and God heard him and delivered him from all his fears. God did this both by working in providence, that is, by arranging events for us, and by working in grace, that is, by quieting our hearts within us. In fact, calming fear is often the greater mercy, because the fear itself is our sin and often our deeper torment. It can trouble the soul more than the danger ever would.

David’s prayers helped to quiet his fears. He had brought his case to God, so he could wait for the outcome with peace. Someone might say, “David was a great man, so maybe we should not expect the same help.” But many others have looked to God in faith and prayer and have become bright with relief and hope (Psalms 34:5). Hannah is one example, when after praying she went away, ate, and was no longer sad. When we look to the world, we become confused and darkened. When we look to God, we receive light, direction, and joy, and our path becomes clear and good. Those who trusted in God were not put to shame; their hope was not disappointed.

Someone else might say these were only important people. But David goes further: “This poor man cried” (Psalms 34:6). A single, lowly, unnoticed person was welcomed at the throne of grace just as much as David or his mighty men. The Lord heard him, took notice of his case and his prayer, and saved him out of all his troubles. God hears the prayer of the needy (Psalms 102:17; Isaiah 57:15).

David also thanks God for the ministry of the good angels around us (Psalms 34:7). The angel of the Lord, meaning either a guard of angels working together as one, or a guardian angel, camps around those who fear God, like a royal guard around a prince, and delivers them.

God often uses holy angels to protect his people from the malice and power of evil spirits. We know far less about their work than we should, because they do many good things for us every day without our seeing it. Though angels are far above us in dignity and natural ability, they still keep the pure obedience they were created with, which we have lost. Though they are always employed in heaven, praising God and enjoying perfect rest and joy there, they still obey their Maker by serving those who bear his image. They not only visit God’s people, but also camp around them and work for their good, just as they did for Jacob (Genesis 32:1) and Elisha (2 Kings 6:17). All glory belongs to the God of the angels.

He wants us to join David in speaking well of God. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” means more than hearing about God’s goodness, it means trying it for ourselves. God’s goodness includes both the beauty of who he is and the kindness of what he gives in his providence and grace. So we must taste that he is a generous giver, and find sweetness in all his gifts. We must also see that he is a lovely and perfect being, and take delight in thinking about his endless goodness. By taste and sight, we both discover things and enjoy them. So here the call is to notice God’s goodness and rest in it, for he is good to those who trust him (1 Peter 2:3). If we are convinced of his goodness, we will have courage to trust him even in the hardest times.

He also wants us to join him in a firm resolve to seek God, serve him, and keep fearing him. “O fear the Lord, you his saints” means that when we taste and see that God is good, we must not forget that he is also great and worthy of deep reverence. Even his goodness should lead us to a loving awe. Scripture says, “They will fear the Lord and his goodness” (Hosea 3:5). To fear the Lord is to worship him and take careful notice of our duty to him in everything. It is not to run from him, but to seek him, as a people seek their God (verse 10). We are to come to him and place our whole life in his hands.

To encourage us, the psalm promises that those who fear and seek God will not lack any good thing, even in this needy world. They may not have every comfort they want, but they will have no true reason to complain of lacking anything good. For the life to come, they will have grace enough to sustain spiritual life (2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 84:11). For this life, God will give them what they need to live, feeding them as a Father gives suitable food to his children. If they need more comfort, he will give it as far as his wisdom sees fit. What he withholds in one area, he will make up in another. And what he denies, he will help them be content without, so that they do not truly lack it (Deuteronomy 3:26). Paul could say he had everything and plenty, because he had learned contentment (Philippians 4:11, 4:18). Those who live by faith in God’s all-sufficiency lack nothing, because in him they have enough.

Even the young lions often go hungry, because those who live only on ordinary providence, like wild beasts, can lack the satisfaction that comes from trusting God’s promise. Those who trust themselves and think their own strength is enough will often be disappointed, for bread is not always for the wise. But those who trust in God and are willing to depend on him will be fed. Those who are greedy and live by taking from others will lack, but the meek will inherit the earth. Those who quietly do their work and mind their own business will not lack. Plainhearted Jacob has enough food, while Esau, the skillful hunter, is ready to die of hunger.