Praise the Lord for His Goodness and Rescue

34:1 I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise him. 34:2 I will boast in the Lord; let the oppressed hear and rejoice! 34:3 Magnify the Lord with me! Let’s praise his name together! 34:4 I sought the Lord’s help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 34:5 Those who look to him for help are happy; their faces are not ashamed. 34:6 This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard; he saved him from all his troubles. 34:7 The Lord’s angel camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them. 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him! 34:9 Remain loyal to the Lord, you chosen people of his, for his loyal followers lack nothing! 34:10 Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 34:11 Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord. 34:12 Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life? 34:13 Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech! 34:14 Turn away from evil and do what is right! Strive for peace and promote it! 34:15 The Lord pays attention to the godly and hears their cry for help. 34:16 But the Lord opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth. 34:17 The godly cry out and the Lord hears; he saves them from all their troubles. 34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged. 34:19 The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them. 34:20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. 34:21 Evil people self-destruct; those who hate the godly are punished. 34:22 The Lord rescues his servants; all who take shelter in him escape punishment. Psalm 35 By David.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

David praises the Lord for delivering him from fear and trouble. He calls others to join him in worship and to learn to fear the Lord by speaking truth, turning from evil, and seeking peace. The psalm teaches that the Lord hears the righteous, stays near the brokenhearted, and rescues those who take refuge in him, while evildoers come to ruin.

Psalm 34 is a song of thanksgiving and instruction. David says he will praise the Lord at all times. He invites the oppressed to hear his testimony and rejoice. He wants others to magnify the Lord with him.

David then tells how the Lord answered him. He sought the Lord, and the Lord delivered him from his fears and troubles. Those who look to the Lord are not put to shame. The psalm also says the Lord’s angel camps around his loyal followers and delivers them. This is a picture of real divine protection.

David then invites the people to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. Those who take shelter in him are blessed. The psalm teaches that those who seek the Lord do not lack any good thing. This does not mean a trouble-free life. It means God gives what is truly needed for those who trust him.

David next teaches what it means to fear the Lord. It includes guarding the tongue, rejecting deceit, turning away from evil, doing what is right, and pursuing peace. So reverence for God is not only inward feeling. It shows itself in speech and conduct.

The psalm ends by showing the Lord’s moral rule. He hears the cry of the righteous, but he opposes evildoers. The godly may face many troubles, and the brokenhearted may suffer deeply, yet the Lord is near to them and saves them. The wicked finally destroy themselves, but the Lord rescues his servants and those who take refuge in him.

• The Lord is worthy of continual praise.
• Testimony of deliverance should lead others to worship.
• The Lord hears those who seek him and take refuge in him.
• God is near to the brokenhearted and saves the afflicted.
• True fear of the Lord includes truthful speech, turning from evil, doing good, and seeking peace.
• The wicked do not ultimately stand, but the Lord rescues his servants.

• Praise the Lord at all times.
• Boast in the Lord, not in yourself.
• Taste and see that the Lord is good.
• Take shelter in the Lord.
• Remain loyal to the Lord.
• Do not speak evil words or use deceptive speech.
• Turn away from evil and do what is right.
• Strive for peace and promote it.
• The Lord hears the cry of the righteous.
• The Lord opposes evildoers.
• The Lord is near the brokenhearted.
• The Lord rescues his servants.

Psalm 34 belongs to Israel’s life under the Lord’s covenant and David’s kingship. It shows the pattern of the righteous sufferer: God hears, protects, and vindicates his servant. In the wider Bible, the line about not one bone being broken later has special significance in John 19:36, but here it first serves as poetic assurance of complete preservation.

Believers should praise God not only in good times but at all times. Hard times can become testimony when God delivers us. We should speak truth, reject deceit, and pursue peace. We should also remember that God’s care is real even when suffering remains. This psalm gives comfort to the brokenhearted and warning to the wicked.

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