Psalms 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times,.... That is, ascribe blessing, give honour, praise, and glory to him, both as the God of nature and providence, for every temporal mercy; and that every day, and

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalms 34 A Psalm made upon that occasion, though not at that time. His behaviour; or, his habit or posture, or his reason, as this word is taken, . When he counterfeited madness. Wherein, whether he sinned or not, is matter of dispute; but this is undoubted, that God’ s favour and his deliverance at that time was very remarkable, and deserved this solemn acknowledgment. Abimelech, called Achish, . But Abimelech seems to have been the common name of the kings of the Philistines, 26:1, as Pharaoh was of the Egyptians, and Caesar of the Romans. David praiseth God, ,2, and exhorteth others thereto from his own experience of God’ s kindness, . He showeth that they are blessed who trust in God, . He exhorteth others to learn to fear him, , and showeth the way to happiness, . The privileges of the righteous, and the punishment of the wicked, . I will never forget to bless God for this miraculous deliverance.

Psalms 34:1 « [A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. » I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.Ver. 1. A Psalm of David] An alphabetical psalm, which David (newly delivered from the Philistines, who had taken him prisoner, and presented him to their king as a special prize) composed with singular art; as fit to be committed to memory by all godly people, who may here meet with many excellent lessons and cordial comforts. Semper in ecclesia hic psalmus piis fuit commendatissimus (Moller). When he changed his behaviour] Heb. Gustum, hoc est gestum. This he did (being put to his shifts), but not without sin, for he was splendide mendax (as Horace, lib. iii. Od. 11, saith of Hypermnestra), at the best; neither can this dissimulation or officious lie of his be excused; as some have by distinctions endeavoured it, but in vain. Before Abimelech] Or, Achish, king of Gath, 1 Samuel 21:10, for he was binominis, saith Aben Ezra; or else Abimelech, that is, father king, was his title of honour; as Augustus would be styled Pater Patriae, the father of his country. R. Solomon saith that Abimelech was a common name to all the Philistine kings, as Pharaoh to the Egyptian. Who cast him out] For a mad man, 1 Samuel 21:15, wherein there was a sweet providence of God, who can order our disorders to his own glory and our good; like as a craftsman with a crooked tool can make straight work; or as an apothecary of a poisonous viper can make a wholesome treacle. And he departed] Into some parts of Judea, where he might repent of his sin first (as Peter did when got into a corner), and then compile this psalm of thanksgiving to God, who had so graciously delivered him out of that hard and hazardous condition, not only above, but against his desert. Ver. 1. I will bless the Lord at all times] As not satisfied with anything I can do herein at any time. The saints have large hearts, and could beteem the Lord a great deal more service than they are able to perform. A certain martyr said at the stake, I am sorry that I am going to a place where I shall be ever receiving wages and do no more work. His praise shall continually be in my mouth] For this remarkable mercy especially, which I will still be telling of, and speaking good of God’ s name to as many as I can possibly extend unto. This thankful man was worth his weight in the gold of Ophir.

PSALM XXXIV David praises God, and exhorts others to do the same, 1-3; shows how he sought the Lord, and how he was found of him, 4-6. All are exhorted to taste and see the goodness of God; with the assurance of support and comfort, 7-10. He shows the way to attain happiness and long life, 11-16; the privileges of the righteous, and of all who sincerely seek God, 17-22. NOTES ON PSALM XXXIV The title states that this is "A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed." The history of this transaction may be found in 1 Samuel 21:10-15, on which chapter see the notes. But Abimelech is not the person there mentioned; it was Achish, king of Gath, called here Abimelech, because that was a common name of the Philistine kings. Neither MS. nor version reads Achish in this place; and all the versions agree in the title as it stands in our version, except the Syriac, which states it to be "A Psalm of David, when he went to the house of the Lord, that he might give the first-fruits to the priests." Of the occasion of this Psalm, as stated here, I have given my opinion in the notes on 1 Samuel 21:10-15, to which I have nothing to add. On the whole I prefer the view taken of it by the Septuagint, which intimates that "David fell into an epileptic fit; that he frothed at the mouth, fell against the doorposts, and gave such unequivocal evidences of being subject to epileptic fits, and during the time his intellect became so much impaired, that Achish Abimelech dismissed him from his court." This saves the character of David; and if it cannot be vindicated in this way, then let it fall under reproach as to this thing; for hypocrisy, deceit, and falsehood, can never be right in the sight of God, whatever men may ingeniously say to excuse them. This is the second of the acrostic or alphabetical Psalms, each verse beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. But in this Psalm some derangement has taken place. The verse which begins with ו vau, and which should come in between the fifth and sixth, is totally wanting; and the twenty-second verse is entirely out of the series; it is, however, my opinion that this verse (the twenty-second) which now begins with פ phe, פודה podeh, redeemeth, was originally written ופודה vepodeh or with פדה padah, as more than a hundred of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. read it, thus making ופדה vepodah, "and will redeem" and this reads admirably in the above connection. I shall here place the verses at one view, and the reader shall judge for himself: Ver. 5. "They looked unto him, and were enlightened: and their faces were not ashamed." Ver. 22. "AND the Lord will redeem the soul of his servants, and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." Ver. 6.

1, 2. Resolution of praise.

I will bless the Lord - I will praise him; I will be thankful for his mercies, and will always express my sense of his goodness. At all times - In every situation of life; in every event that occurs.

1. Times—The word comprehends the idea of seasons, occasions, as well as continued duration. Continually—The spirit of praise (as of prayer, Ephesians 6:18) should be unintermitted, and the act habitual and regular.