Psalm 34
A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.
This psalm was composed by David, when Achish, or Abimelech, king of Gath, drove him from his court as an idiot or madman, 1 Sam. 21:10-15. Here are, (1.) David's high praises to God, for the favours himself and others had received, ver. 1-6. (2.) His warm invitations and strong encouragements to others to seek after and fear the Lord, and to trust in him for all necessary supplies, in time, or in eternity, ver. 7-10. (3.) Familiar advice to children and others to eschew every thing sinful, and make conscience of known duty, both towards God and man, as a means of present and future happiness, ver. 11-14. (4.) A representation of the misery of the wicked, in having God against them as an avenging enemy, and in having ruin before them as the just reward of their sins; and of the happiness of the godly, in having God near to them in every case, ready to hear their requests, to protect them amidst dangers, and to deliver them from enemies and trouble, ver. 15-22.
While I sing, let my heart be warmed with my subject. Come my soul, and walk in this light, in these joys of the Lord: Come, taste and see that he is good; extol his kindness, and trust him in all things, and on every occasion.
1 God will I bless all times; his praise
my mouth shall still express.
2 My soul shall boast in God: the meek
shall hear with joyfulness.
3 Extol the Lord with me, let us
exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, he heard, and did
me from all fears deliver.
5 They look'd to him, and lighten'd were:
not shamed were their faces.
6 This poor man cry'd, God heard, and sav'd
him from all his distresses.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps,
and round encompasseth
All those about that do him fear,
and them delivereth.
8 O taste and see that God is good:
who trusts in him is bless'd.
9 Fear God his saints: none that him fear
shall be with want oppress'd.
10 The lions young may hungry be,
and they may lack their food:
But they that truly seek the Lord
shall not lack any good.
11 O children, hither do ye come,
and unto me give ear;
I shall you teach to understand
how ye the Lord should fear.
12 What man is he that life desires,
to see good would live long?
13 Thy lips refrain from speaking guile,
and from ill words thy tongue.
14 Depart from ill, do good, seek peace,
pursue it earnestly.
15 God's eyes are on the just; his ears
are open to their cry.
16 The face of God is set against
those that do wickedly,
That he may quite out from the earth
cut off their memory.
17 The righteous cry unto the Lord,
he unto them gives ear;
And they out of their troubles all
by him deliver'd are.
18 The Lord is ever nigh to them
that be of broken sp'rit;
To them he safety doth afford
that are in heart contrite.
19 The troubles that afflict the just
in number many be;
But yet at length out of them all
the Lord doth set him free.
20 He carefully his bones doth keep,
whatever can befall;
That not so much as one of them
can broken be at all.
21 Ill shall the wicked slay; laid waste
shall be who hate the just.
22 The Lord redeems his servants' souls;
none perish that him trust.
A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.
This psalm was composed by David, when Achish, or Abimelech, king of Gath, drove him from his court as an idiot or madman, 1 Sam. 21:10-15. Here are, (1.) David's high praises to God, for the favours himself and others had received, ver. 1-6. (2.) His warm invitations and strong encouragements to others to seek after and fear the Lord, and to trust in him for all necessary supplies, in time, or in eternity, ver. 7-10. (3.) Familiar advice to children and others to eschew every thing sinful, and make conscience of known duty, both towards God and man, as a means of present and future happiness, ver. 11-14. (4.) A representation of the misery of the wicked, in having God against them as an avenging enemy, and in having ruin before them as the just reward of their sins; and of the happiness of the godly, in having God near to them in every case, ready to hear their requests, to protect them amidst dangers, and to deliver them from enemies and trouble, ver. 15-22.
While I sing, let my heart be warmed with my subject. Come my soul, and walk in this light, in these joys of the Lord: Come, taste and see that he is good; extol his kindness, and trust him in all things, and on every occasion.
1 God will I bless all times; his praise
my mouth shall still express.
2 My soul shall boast in God: the meek
shall hear with joyfulness.
3 Extol the Lord with me, let us
exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, he heard, and did
me from all fears deliver.
5 They look'd to him, and lighten'd were:
not shamed were their faces.
6 This poor man cry'd, God heard, and sav'd
him from all his distresses.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps,
and round encompasseth
All those about that do him fear,
and them delivereth.
8 O taste and see that God is good:
who trusts in him is bless'd.
9 Fear God his saints: none that him fear
shall be with want oppress'd.
10 The lions young may hungry be,
and they may lack their food:
But they that truly seek the Lord
shall not lack any good.
11 O children, hither do ye come,
and unto me give ear;
I shall you teach to understand
how ye the Lord should fear.
12 What man is he that life desires,
to see good would live long?
13 Thy lips refrain from speaking guile,
and from ill words thy tongue.
14 Depart from ill, do good, seek peace,
pursue it earnestly.
15 God's eyes are on the just; his ears
are open to their cry.
16 The face of God is set against
those that do wickedly,
That he may quite out from the earth
cut off their memory.
17 The righteous cry unto the Lord,
he unto them gives ear;
And they out of their troubles all
by him deliver'd are.
18 The Lord is ever nigh to them
that be of broken sp'rit;
To them he safety doth afford
that are in heart contrite.
19 The troubles that afflict the just
in number many be;
But yet at length out of them all
the Lord doth set him free.
20 He carefully his bones doth keep,
whatever can befall;
That not so much as one of them
can broken be at all.
21 Ill shall the wicked slay; laid waste
shall be who hate the just.
22 The Lord redeems his servants' souls;
none perish that him trust.
