Psalms 34

A Psalm of David, ivhen he clianged his Behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. The title tells us this Psalm was penned by David, afte^ the escape he made from Achish, king of Gath (in which country all their kings were called by the common name of- Abimelech, i. e. My father the king; as in Egypt, anciently, they were all called Pharaoh, and afterward Ptolemy), who he was afraid would seize on him, when he heard it commonly reported that he was the person, that killed Goliath, and pretended to the sovereignty over all those countries: (ISam.xxi.ll.) and therefore he put on the behaviour of a man beside himself; hoping that when Achish saw this he would despise him: and looking upon him as a useless man, that could do neither good nor harm, think fit to thrust him out of his court, where he had been entertained, and send him packing from thence. And accordingly it succeeded. (1 Sam. xxi. 14, 15.) But though he was preserved by this artifice, the deliverance notwithstanding is piously ascribed unto God’s great mercy, who prospered the device. To whom therefore he would have all pious men commit themselves, and depend upon his favour in welldoing: which he declares is the sure course to be happy. The Psalm is curiously composed, according to the number and order of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, in the beginning of every verse; which shews it was contrived, when he reiiected upon his escape, in some place of safety. t. [psalm XXX1W 1C9 sand: I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, titan to dwell in the tents of wickedness.] For one day spent in thy courts, is far more pleasant than a thousand in any other place; and I had rather lie at the gates of thy house, than live in the most splendid condition in idolatrous countries.

Psalms 34:1

JL WILL bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. I will never forget how gracious the Lord hath been to me in this remarkable deliverance; hut, whatsoever my condition be, will still have my mind and my mouth perpetually filled with his praise.

Psalms 34:2

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. This shall be my glory; in this I will think myself happy, that the Lord’ is with me, wheresoever I am, to guide and defend me; and I will let all those that humbly depend on him know what he hath done for me; that they may likewise joyfully hope^ for his mercy.

Psalms 34:3

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Oh that they would all join with me in declaring the greatness of his goodness, in this miraculous providence over me!.Let them with the same devout affection extol him in all his glorious attributes; who hath given me such a deliverance, and them such hope in the greatest danger.

Psalms 34:4

/ sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. I was sore afraid (1 Sam. xxi. 12.) when I found they had discovered me in the court of Achish who I was; and many a sad thought and dreadful apprehension began then to trouble my mind: but committing myself to thee by hearty prayer, and desiring thee to be my guide and my protector; thou wast pleased presently to rid me of them, by inclining his heart to look upon me as I appeared, and to make no stricter inquiry after me.

Psalms 34:5

They looked unto him, and tcere lightened: and their faces ivere not ashamed. From which all pious men should take courage in all their straits, and when their hearts are ready to sink, look up unto God: who will revive and comfort them, and never suuer them to be ashamed of the hope they repose in him.

Psalms 34:6

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Let them fix their eyes on me, and excite one another to a cheerful dependance on him, saying, Behold that man: he was in a miserably poor condition, destitute of all human help; but commending himself to the Lord by earnest prayer, the Lord took care of him, and delivered him out of all his distresses.

Psalms 34:7

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Why should we then despair of his mercy, who sends an invisible host (as appeared to Elisha) to guard those who fear nothing so much as to offend his majesty; arid to preserve them as securely as if they were surrounded with an invincible army from all the assaults of their enemies? •

Psalms 34:8

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Oh that men would not be so negligent, but seriously consider this, and make a trial, by steadfast fidelity to God in all their troubles^ how gracious and kind he is! They shall soon find that there is no man so happy as he that piously confides in him. -

Psalms 34:9

Ofear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Continue therefore, O ye devout worshippers of the Lord (whatsoever other men do), to fear nothing, but lest you be false to him. Never betake yourselves to any sinful ways to provide for your safety, or to supply any of your necessities: but religiously observe his command; and you shall never be reduced to such straits, as to be utterly destitute of what is needful for your preservation.

Psalms 34:10

The young lions do lack t and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. The young lions (an emblem of those that seek to enrich themselves by rapine, or by injurious practices), who are most ravenous in their appetites, as well as swift to pursue, and bold. to seize, and strong to tear in pieces, their prey, arc many times disappointed, and cannot meet with satisfaction to their hungry desires; but they that seek their food from the Lord in pious and honest ways, shall certainly be blessed with every thing that is good for them.

Psalms 34:11

Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Come hither then, all ye that are disposed to learn, and hearken to the instruction which, out of a most tender affection to yonr welfare, I shall givo you, concerning the fear of the Lord. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly,.] For though our happiness be sometimes clouded, yet the Lord, like the sun, will dispel the darkness of affliction; and, having brought us out of a disconsolate condition, defend and secure us in a better: (2 King;, xx. 6.) the Lord will give those favour with others, and advance them to great honour; (2 Chron. xxxii. 22, 23.) he will never be sparing of his blessings, but heap them abundantly on those who sincerely do his will in all things, (2 Kings xviii. 5,6. xx. 3.) Ver: 12. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’] O most mighty Lord, who commandest all the host of heaven, happy is that man, who, by his integrity, preserves this hope and confidence in thee; though, for the present, he be restrained from the delightful enjoyment of thee in thy temple.

Psalms 34:12

What man is ht that desi ret h life, and.loveth many days, that he may see good?. Who is there among you that desires to live happily? that would fain prolong his life to a great number of years, and have them all prosperous and pleasant?

Psalms 34:13

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Let him be very careful, in the first place, to bridle his tongue; and never employ it to speak evil of others, or to deceive them with fair words and false promises.

Psalms 34:14

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Let him in all his actions also eschew what God hath prohibited, and do what he hath commanded: and, more particularly, avoiding all hatreds and enmities, strife and contention, study to maintain love and friendship with all his neighbours, and to make peace among them when they quarrel; and though they he averse to it, not to cease his importunities, till, if it be possible, he hath reconciled them.

Psalms 34:15

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are openriinto their cry. Such men will feel great contentment in their own hearts, and be exceedingly beloved by others: and (which is the greatest happiness of all) the Lord will have a special care of them; and, when they are in any distress, most readily hear their cry, and help them.

Psalms 34:16

The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. But as for all those that take the contrary course (besides that they are ill at (jase in themselves, and hated by their neighbours), the Lord is their enemy: and in his heavy displeasure will utterly destroy both them and theirs.

Psalms 34:17

The righteous cry r and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Experience hath taught us this (and therefore let them not be disheartened if they fall into any trouble, hut still expect good days), that the Lord graciously answers the prayers of those who adhere unto him in the ways of piety and peaceableness, and sends them seasonable relief and deliverance.

Psalms 34:18

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; andsaveth mch as be of a contrite spirit. Though he may seem to absent himself, by suffering them to be sorely bruised aud crushed under their burdens: yet he is really present to them to support aud coinfort their droop-