Psalms 34

Psalms 34:1

Title. Abimelech] Or, Achish, 1 Samuel 21:11. His name was Achish; but it seems Abimelech was a common name to those kings, as Pharaoh was to the kings of Egypt.

AT all times] He promiseth never to be come unmindfull of Gods great benefits for his deliverance.

Psalms 34:2

the humble shall hear thereof] They that are beaten down with the experience of their own evils.

be glad] That God hath preserved me for the kingdom.

Psalms 34:4

and delivered me from all my fears] Which I conceived, for the dangers wherein I was among the Philistines, Hebrews 5:7.

Psalms 34:5

They] The humble, spoken of, v. 2.

looked unto him] By faith, hope and prayer.

were lightened] Or, they flowed unto him. They were delivered and comforted.

Psalms 34:6

This poor man cried] These are the words of the humble, raising up themselves up by the consideration of Gods favour shewed to David.

Psalms 34:7

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him] Though Gods power be sufficient to govern us, yet, for mans infirmity, he appointeth his angels to watch over us, as souldiers encamped about us, psal. 91. 11. Hebrews 1:14.

Psalms 34:8

O taste] Make triall of his bounty, by seeking to him for relief.

O taste and see that the Lord is good] 1 Peter 2:3.

blessed is the man that trusteth in him] Psalms 2:12.

Psalms 34:9

O fear the Lord] Worship him according to his will, with reverence and awfull dread, Hebrews 12:28.

O fear the Lord ye his saints] Psalms 31:23.

there is no want to them that fear him] The godly that trust in God, scape better then great men that trust in their greatnesse, psal. 84. 11. verse 10.

Psalms 34:11

Come ye children] Which acknowledge me for a spirituall father and teacher, Proverbs 1:8. and Proverbs 10:15.

I will teach you the fear of the Lord] Their whole duty to God, v. 9. Ecclesiastes 12:13.

Psalms 34:12

What man is he that desireth life] 1 Pet. 3. 10. Seeing all men naturally desire life and felicity, he wondereth why men take courses that lead into misery.

fee] Or, enjoy, Jeremiah 17:8.

Psalms 34:14

Depart from evil] Psalms 37:27. Isai. 1. 16, 17.

and pursue it] Take as much pains to do well, as hunters do to atch the prey, Hebrews 12:14.

Psalms 34:15

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous] Job 36:7. Psalms 33:18. 1 Pet. 3. 12.

Psalms 34:16

The face of the Lord is against them that do evil] His open anger, Leviticus 17:10. Jeremiah 44:11.

to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth] Gods anger not onely destroys the wicked, but also abolisheth their name for ever, psal. 37. 35, 36. Proverbs 10:7.

Psalms 34:17

The righteous crie, and the Lord heareth] Spoken of, v. 15. And if the sixteenth verse had a parenthesis about it, it might be read, they crie: or, the broken-hearted crie, v. 18. for so the antecedent is taken out of the verse following, psal. 87. 1, 2.

Psalms 34:18

unto them that are of a broken heart] Psalms 51:17. Isaiah 57:15. Heb. to the broken of heart.

that are of a broken heart] When they seem to be swallowed up with afflictions, then God is at hand to deliver them.

such as be of a contrite spirit] Heb. contrite of spirit.

Psalms 34:20

He keepeth all his bones] And, as Christ saith, all the hairs of his head, Luke 11. 6, 7.

bones] John 19:36.

Psalms 34:21

Evil shall slay the wicked] Evil of punishment shall destroy wicked men, though not good men, v. 20. or, they shall perish for their sins, psal. 94. 23. and 145. 20.

shall be desolate] Or, shall be guiltie.

Psalms 34:22

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants] When they seem to be overcome with great dangers, then God delivereth them.