Chapter 34
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Overview
Psalm 34 is an acrostic psalm of praise written when David feigned madness before Abimelech (Achish) and was delivered. David declares he will bless the LORD at all times and His praise shall continually be in his mouth. He testifies: 'I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.' The psalm teaches that the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, that the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry, and that the LORD is nigh unto those who are of a broken heart. 'Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.'
Key Themes
Continuous Praise in All Circumstances
David commits to blessing the LORD at all times — not just in good seasons but continually, regardless of circumstances.
Deliverance from Fear
God does not merely deliver from danger but from fear itself — those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces are never ashamed.
God's Nearness to the Brokenhearted
The LORD is near to those with broken hearts and saves those with crushed spirits — God draws closest in our deepest pain.
Study Questions
How can we practically 'bless the LORD at all times' (v. 1), even in difficult circumstances?
What does it mean to 'taste and see that the LORD is good' (v. 8)? How is faith an experiential reality?
How does the promise 'the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him' (v. 7) provide security?
What does it mean that 'the LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart' (v. 18)?
How do we reconcile 'many are the afflictions of the righteous' with 'the LORD delivereth him out of them all' (v. 19)?
Connection to Christ
John 19:36 identifies the fulfillment of verse 20 — 'He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken' — in Christ's crucifixion, when none of His bones were broken. Jesus tasted the full bitterness of human suffering so that we might 'taste and see' that God is good. He is the one who draws near to the brokenhearted and delivers them.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Psalms 34. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?