Psalms 34:11 - Meaning and Application

David, in the later part of this psalm, takes up the work of teaching children. Even though he was a warrior and had been anointed as king, he did not think this beneath him. Though his mind was full of concerns and his hands full of work, he still found time and heart to give wise counsel to young people from his own experience.

It does not seem that he had any grown children of his own at this point, at least none old enough to be taught. Still, by God’s guidance, he instructs the children of his people. Older people would not listen to him, though he had already offered himself as their teacher (Psalm 32:8). But he hoped tender young hearts would be easier to shape, so he calls a gathering of children (Psalm 34:11). He says, in effect, “Come, you children who are in your learning years, the years when you should store up knowledge you will need all your life. Come, you children who are foolish and ignorant and need instruction.”

He may especially mean children whose parents neglected to teach them the faith. It is a great act of charity to send such children to school, just as it is to feed children whose parents cannot provide bread. David expects them to listen carefully: “Hear me, leave your play, put aside your toys, and hear what I have to say. Do not only listen, but pay attention and obey.” What he promises to teach them is the fear of the Lord, which includes all the duties of religion.

David was known as a musician, statesman, and soldier, but he does not offer to teach the children music, weapons, or government skill. He says, “I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” That is better than all arts and sciences, and better than burnt offerings and sacrifices. It is the one thing we should want most for ourselves and for our children.

He begins by assuming that all people want to be happy (Psalm 34:12). He asks, “What man is he that desireth life?” That is, who wants not just many days, but good and pleasant days? True life is more than mere existence, it is a good and healthy life. The question reaches beyond this world too. Human life on earth is short and full of trouble, so the real question is who wants lasting happiness, as many days as the days of heaven, with perfect joy and no sorrow. Who wants to see the good things God sets before us now by faith and hope, and enjoy them soon in full? Very few even think about that. Most ask, “Who will show us any good?” but few ask, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

David then shows the only true path to happiness in this life and the life to come (Psalm 34:13, 14). If we want to pass through this world well and leave it well, we must keep a good conscience. To do that, we must learn to control our tongues and be careful what we say, so we do not speak in ways that dishonor God or harm our neighbors. We must keep away from lying, evil speech, and slander. So important is this that James says the one who does not offend in word is a perfect man, and the one who does not bridle his tongue has a religion that is worthless.

We must also be honest and sincere in all we say, not double-tongued. Our words should match our thoughts, and our lips must not speak deceit to God or people. We must leave all our sins behind and decide we will have nothing more to do with them. We must turn away from evil, both from evil deeds and evil people, from sins others commit and sins we once allowed in ourselves. It is not enough to avoid harm. We must also be useful and live for a purpose. We must do good, especially to our own souls, by using them well, storing up a good treasure, and preparing them for the next world. And as we have ability and opportunity, we must do good to others as well.

Since nothing is more opposed to that love which never fails, the heart of both law and gospel, than strife and quarrels, we must seek peace and pursue it. We should have a peaceable spirit, look for the things that make for peace, and do nothing to break peace or stir up trouble. If peace seems to run from us, we must chase after it. We should follow peace with all people and spare no effort or cost to preserve and recover it. For peace’s sake, we should be ready to deny ourselves much in both honor and gain.

These fine directions for life are repeated in the New Testament and made part of our gospel duty (1 Peter 3:10, 11). David may also be warning us not to speak deceitfully because he remembers his own failure in changing his behavior. Those who truly repent of wrong doing will warn others not to fall into the same sin.

David then strengthens these commands by setting before us the happiness of the godly under God’s love and favor, and the miserable state of the wicked under his displeasure. Life and death, good and evil, blessing and curse, are set plainly before us, so we may choose life and live (Isaiah 3:10, 11).

Woe to the wicked, it will go badly with them, even if they try to bless themselves in their own way. God is against them, and that alone makes their case terrible. It is a sad thing when a person’s sin turns his Maker into his enemy and destroyer. “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (Psalm 34:16). Sometimes Scripture says God turns his face away from them because they have turned from him (Jeremiah 18:17). Here it says he sets his face against them because they have fought against him. God can surely look down the proudest and boldest sinner and bring him low.

Destruction also lies ahead for them. If God is against them, ruin must follow, because he has power both to kill and to cast into hell. The land of the living will not remain a place for them or their family line. When God sets his face against them, he will not only cut them off, but wipe out their memory. While they are alive, he may bury them in obscurity. When they are dead, he will bury them in forgetfulness. He will remove their descendants, the people through whom they hoped to be remembered. He will also bring disgrace on the great things they achieved and were proud of, the things they expected would keep their name alive. True honor lasts only when it comes from God. Their death will also have a sting in it, for “evil shall slay the wicked” (Psalm 34:21).

Their death will be miserable, and certainly so, even if they die in comfort or in honor. Death has a curse in it for them, and it is the king of terrors. To them, it is evil, and only evil.

Dr. Hammond wisely notes that the evil here, which destroys the wicked, is the same word, in the singular, used in Psalm 34:19 for the troubles of the righteous. This seems to show that God’s people may have many troubles, yet those troubles do them no harm. Instead, God uses them for their good, and he will deliver them from all of them. Wicked people may have fewer troubles, perhaps only one, yet that one may bring about their ruin. One trouble with a curse in it kills and destroys, while many troubles with a blessing in them are harmless, and even useful.

Their lasting portion will be ruin and desolation. Wicked people often hate righteous people, both their persons and their way of life. They have a stubborn hatred toward holiness itself. But the wicked will be made desolate, counted guilty, and laid waste forever. They will be left by God, and by all good angels and people. That is true desolation.

Yet the message to the righteous is this, it will go well with them. All good people are under God’s special favor and protection. Scripture gives this assurance in many different ways. God watches especially over good people, and he notices who keeps their eyes fixed on him and who takes his duty to him seriously: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous” (Psalm 34:15). He directs and guides them, and he protects and keeps them. A loving parent will not let a favored child go out of sight, and none of God’s children are ever out of his sight. He looks on them with pleasure, as well as with careful and tender concern.

They are also sure of an answer of peace to their prayers. All God’s people are a praying people, and they cry out in prayer, which shows urgency and earnestness. But does it do any good? Yes. God notices what they say: “They cry, and the Lord hears them” (Psalm 34:17). He hears them in a way that shows he cares for them. His ears are open to their prayers, ready to receive them all, and to receive them gladly. He has been a God who hears prayer ever since people began to call on the name of the Lord, yet his ear is never too dull to hear. A cry may not sound polished or impressive, but God’s ears are open to it, like a mother’s ear to her nursing child’s cry, which another person might ignore. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them (Psalm 34:17). This shows that good people keep crying to God when they are in trouble, and their constant comfort is that he hears them.

God does more than notice their words, he is near to help them (Psalm 34:18). He is near to those who have a broken heart, and he saves them. This is the mark of the righteous whose prayers God hears, they are brokenhearted and humble in spirit. That means they are humbled because of sin and emptied of self. They think little of themselves and do not trust their own worth or strength, but only God. To such people, God is near, to comfort and strengthen them, so their spirit may not be crushed more than it can bear. See Isaiah 57:15. Though God is high and lives on high, he is still near to those who have a humble spirit and know how to value his favor. He saves them from sinking under their burdens, and he is near to them in the best possible way.

They are also under the special care of God’s government: “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:20). This means not only the soul, but the body too, and not only the body in general, but every bone in it. The one who has a broken heart will not have a broken bone. David himself had learned that when his heart was truly humbled, his broken bones were made to rejoice (Psalm 51:8, Psalm 51:17). We would not expect to find Christ here, yet this scripture is said to be fulfilled in him (John 19:36). When the soldiers broke the legs of the two men crucified with him, they did not break Jesus’ legs, because he was under the protection of this promise, and also under the picture of the Passover lamb, of which no bone was to be broken. Since the promises were made true in Christ, they are sure for all who belong to him. This does not mean a good man can never have a broken bone, but God’s watchful care often keeps such harm from happening. And if a bone is broken, it will be healed in time, and fully at the resurrection, when what is sown in weakness will be raised in power.

They are, and will be, delivered from their troubles. It is assumed that they have their share of trials in this world, and perhaps more than others. In this world they must have trouble, so they may be shaped both by God’s will and by Christ’s example (Psalm 34:19). “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” is shown in David’s own sufferings (Psalm 132:1). Some people hate them (Psalm 34:21) and keep trying to harm them. Their God loves them, and so he corrects them. Between heaven’s mercy and hell’s malice, the troubles of the righteous must be many.

God has promised to deliver them and save them: he delivers them from all their troubles (Psalm 34:17, Psalm 34:19); he saves them (Psalm 34:18), so that, though they may fall into trouble, trouble will not destroy them. This promise is explained in Psalm 34:22. Whatever troubles come, they will not harm their better part. The Lord rescues the souls of his servants from the power of the grave (Psalm 49:15) and from the sting of every affliction. He keeps them from sinning in their troubles, which is the only real harm trouble can do. He also keeps them from despair and from losing hold of their own souls.

They will also not lose their lasting joy. None of those who trust in him will be made desolate, which means they will not be left without comfort, because they will not be cut off from communion with God. No one is truly desolate unless God has left him, and no one is truly undone until he is in hell. Those who faithfully serve God, who aim to please him and make it their business to honor him, and who trust him for protection and reward, have every reason to be at peace no matter what happens. They are safe, and they will be happy.

As we sing these verses, let us be strengthened in the choice we have made to follow God’s ways. Let us be stirred up in his service, and greatly encouraged by his promise that he cares especially for all who faithfully cling to him.