Psalm 34

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#996699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f467d1erlcll.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>VoiceInWilderness.info</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VoiceInWilderness.info"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="blessed_is_the_man_who_walks_not_in.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 1"><U>Psalm 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="why_do_the_nations_proudly_rage_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 2"><U>Psalm 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hymn_1094___lo_the_nations_all_assemble.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 2 (not literal)"><U>Psalm 2 (not literal)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="when_david_fled_from_absalom_his_son.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 3"><U>Psalm 3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___in_my_calling__answer_thou_me.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 4"><U>Psalm 4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___o_lord_to_my_words_give_ear.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 5"><U>Psalm 5</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___lord_in_wrath_rebuke_me_not.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 6"><U>Psalm 6</U></A>   |   <A HREF="which_david_sang_to_jehovah_concerning_the_words_of_cush_the_benjamite.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 7"><U>Psalm 7</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___o_lord__our_lord_how_excellent_your_name.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 8"><U>Psalm 8</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hymn_1097___o_lord__our_lord.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 8 (not literal)"><U>Psalm 8 (not literal)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___virgins_for_the_son___i_will_praise_the_lord_with_my_whole_heart.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 9"><U>Psalm 9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="why_do_you_stand_afar_off__o_lord_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 10"><U>Psalm 10</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___in_the_lord_do_i_trust.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 11"><U>Psalm 11</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___help__lord__for_the_godly_ceases.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 12"><U>Psalm 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___how_long_will_you_forget_me_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 13"><U>Psalm 13</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___the_fool_has_said_in_his_heart_there_is_no_god.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 14"><U>Psalm 14</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___the_fool_has_said_in_his_heart_there_is_no_god4a.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 14 Luther"><U>Psalm 14 Luther</U></A>   |   <A HREF="lord_who_shall_sojourn_in_your_tabernacle_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 15 "><U>Psalm 15 </U></A>   |   <A HREF="gold___preserve_me__o_god__for_in_thee_i_trust.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 16"><U>Psalm 16</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hear_the_right__o_lord.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 17"><U>Psalm 17</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___the_lord_s_2nd_coming.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 18"><U>Psalm 18</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___the_heavens_record_god_s_glory.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 19"><U>Psalm 19</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___the_lord_answer_you_in_the_day_of_adversity.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 20"><U>Psalm 20</U></A>   |   <A HREF="overcomer___the_king_shall_joy_in_thy_strength.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 21"><U>Psalm 21</U></A>   |   <A HREF="unto_thee_o_lord_do_i_lift_up_my_soul_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 25"><U>Psalm 25</U></A>   |   <A HREF="a_psalm__a_song__at_the_dedication_of_the_house_by_david.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 30"><U>Psalm 30</U></A>   |   <A HREF="by_david__giving_understanding___blessed_is_he_whose_transgression_s_removed.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 32"><U>Psalm 32</U></A>   |   <B>Psalm 34</B>   |   <A HREF="do_not_be_incensed_because_of_evil_doers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 37"><U>Psalm 37</U></A>   |   <A HREF="truly_god_is_good_to_israel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 73"><U>Psalm 73</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=350 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <U>Psalm 34</U><U> - </U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><U>of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>This is the 2nd acrostic, or alphabetic psalm. This makes the Psalm easy to memorize. I've included the Hebrew letter for each verse and have bolded the word that starts with it. It is worthwhile to memorize this Psalm. This Psalm turns defeat into victory, joy and death of self.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This is not a regular tune, so here is an mp3 of my poor voice singing it on the way to work.</B></div> <div> <B> <embed src="HTMLobj-344/Psalm34.mp3" autostart="false" width="145" height="70">  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This psalm has no prayer in it. None of it is directly toward the Lord, but it is speaking to man and instructing.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>After David fled from Abimelech, he fled to the cave of Adullam where a big bunch of losers joined him </B><A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#1sam22_1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>(2 Sam 22:1-2)</B></U></A><B>. David had lost everything that he had worked hard and nobly to attain. He had lived in a great house and was married to the king's daughter. Now he is living in a cave, which  is hard </B><A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#heb11_37" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>(Heb 11:38)</B></U></A><B>. Then the Lord sends to him all these helpers, but they were all losers: men who couldn't find a job, couldn't pay their bills and complainers. Saul had chosen all the top ones to be with him (</B><A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#1sam14_52" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>1 Sam 14:52</B></U></A><B>), but David received those of the Lord's choosing.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In this Psalm David instructs his new followers, letting the Lord work in them to transform them from losers into mighty men. He tells them to enjoy the Lord (</B><A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#8" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>v8</B></U></A><B>), then to fear the Lord (</B><A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#9" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>v9-</B></U></A><B>16</B><B>), and then to enjoy the Lord in suffering with the Lord (v</B><A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#17" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>17-20</B></U></A><B>). (</B>I got the above 2 paragraphs mostly from  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.jesusloversincleveland.org/English/framesindex.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.jesusloversincleveland.org/En"><U><I>David: A Person Who Served His Generation by Struggling After God's Heart</I></U></A> by Titus Chu)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>In my experience, this Psalm is a picture of the beginning of the church life with all the misfits, like myself, that the Lord brought. We should receive with joy all the misfits that the Lord brings us. Lord give us the grace to help them to enjoy You and to fear You and to bear Your cross. The same 3 lessons are needed by our younger generation.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>v1-4</B></U></A><B> are about David. These are all in the 1st person. "The humble"  or "afflicted" in v2 are those misfits gathered to him. In v3 he encourages them all to magnify the Lord together with him.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#5" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>v5</B></U></A><B> David turned his followers to look unto the Lord, and they were enlightened. This is the 1st step of recovery. The Lord's enlightenment takes away our shame. People can see it visibly on our faces. I want to see this again in the church life. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="psv6"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>v6. "this poor man" may be one of David's followers.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#9" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>v9</B></U></A><B> <A NAME="n9"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B> Fearing the Lord is a great matter throughout the Psalms and the whole Bible. Some Christians think that fearing the Lord is an Old Testament thing, done away with in the New Testament. This is wrong. Many verses in the New Testament tell Christians to fear the Lord. (Acts 5:11; 9:31; Rom 11:20; 2 Cor 7:1; Eph 5:21; Phil 2:12; Heb 4:1; 12:28; 1 Pet 2:17). </B></div> <div> 1 Pet 2:17<B>  Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.</B></div> <div> <B>The reason some Christians think that in the New Testament, there is no more fear of the Lord is from the verse:</B></div> <div> <B> </B>1 John 4:18<B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that fears is not made perfect in love.</B></div> <div> <B>The fear that is cast out is the fear of punishment for what we have done in the past. We confess these to the Lord and make restitution and apology to man, and the Lord remembers them no more. However we still need to fear that we do not offend the Lord today and in the future.  When we love others according to how God loves us, we have no fear of punishment at the Lord's return. </B>(This is from the footnotes by Witness Lee on 1 John 4:18 in the <I>Recovery Version New Testament</I>.)</div> <bR> <div> <B>Psalm 25 told us the benefits of fearing the Lord. Here David tells us what it means to fear the Lord. </B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_m.htm#17" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><B>v17-20</B></U></A><B> This is such a joyful psalm, but here you can see how much David was suffering.  This makes the Psalm so sweet. The word "cry" in v17 is to cry in anguish.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The structure of this Psalm is similar to Psalm 25. To see a comparison of this Psalm's acrostic structure to Psalm 25, see </B><A HREF="unto_thee_o_lord_do_i_lift_up_my_soul__ps25acrostic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalm 25"><U><B>Psalm 25</B></U></A><B>.</B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Psalm 34</B> of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#1sam21_10" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U><I>(ref 1 Sam 21:10-22:2)</I></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 <A NAME="1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> <IMG SRC="15a18170.gif" border=0 width="24" height="23" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <B>I will bless</B> the LORD</div> <div> at all times. </div> <div> His praise shall continually </div> <div> <I>be</I> in my mouth. </div> <bR> <div> 2 <IMG SRC="17015170.gif" border=0 width="21" height="23" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  My soul shall make</div> <div> her boast <B>in the LORD</B>.</div> <div> The humble shall hear </div> <div> <I>thereof</I>, and be glad.</div> <bR> <div> 3 <IMG SRC="15c10180.gif" border=0 width="16" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  O <B>magnify</B></div> <div> the LORD with me, </div> <div> and let us exalt </div> <div> His name together.</div> <bR> <div> 4 <IMG SRC="15d14160.gif" border=0 width="20" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <B>I sought</B> the LORD, </div> <div> and He heard me, </div> <div> and delivered me</div> <div> from all my fears.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> 5 <A NAME="5"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> <IMG SRC="17313170.gif" border=0 width="19" height="23" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <B>They looked</B> unto Him, </div> <div> and were shining, </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1740e160.gif" border=0 width="14" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >and their faces</FONT></div> <div> are not ashamed.</div> <bR> <div> 6 <IMG SRC="17512160.gif" border=0 width="18" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <B>This</B> poor man called</div> <div> and the LORD heard <I>him</I>, </div> <div> and saved him </div> <div> out of all his troubles.</div> <bR> <div> 7 <IMG SRC="16016170.gif" border=0 width="22" height="23" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> The angel of the LORD </div> <div> <B>encamps</B> around them</div> <div> that fear Him, and </div> <div> delivers them. </div> <div>  </div> <div> 8 <A NAME="8"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> <IMG SRC="17716180.gif" border=0 width="22" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  O <B>taste</B> and see </div> <div> that the LORD <I>is</I> good.</div> <div> Blessed <I>is</I> the man </div> <div> who trusts in Him.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="of_david__when_he_changed_his_behavior_before_abimelech__who_drove_him_away__and_l.htm#n9" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Psalm 34"><U>9</U></A> <A NAME="9"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> <IMG SRC="18a16170.gif" border=0 width="22" height="23" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> O <B>fear</B> the LORD,</div> <div> ye His saints,</div> <div> for <I>there is</I> no lack</div> <div> to them that fear Him.</div> <bR> <div> 10 <IMG SRC="18916170.gif" border=0 width="22" height="23" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> The <B>young lions</B> lack, </div> <div> and suffer hunger,</div> <div> but they that seek the LORD</div> <div> shall not lack any good.</div> <bR> <div> 11 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="OLBHEB" ><IMG SRC="188181d0.gif" border=0 width="24" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT><B>Come</B> ye children,</div> <div> hearken to me: </div> <div> I will teach you </div> <div> the fear of the LORD.</div> <bR> <div> 12  <B><IMG SRC="1651a1c0.gif" border=0 width="26" height="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> What</B> man <I>is he</I></div> <div> <I> that</I> desires life, <I>and</I> </div> <div> loves <I>many</I> days, </div> <div> that he may see good?</div> <bR> <div> 13  <IMG SRC="166121c0.gif" border=0 width="18" height="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <B>Keep</B> your tongue </div> <div> from evil, </div> <div> and thy lips</div> <div> from speaking guile.</div> <bR> <div> 14 <B><IMG SRC="1671b180.gif" border=0 width="27" height="24" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Depart</B> from evil,</div> <div> and do good.</div> <div> Seek peace</div> <div> and pursue it.</div> <bR> <div> 15 <IMG SRC="17e16190.gif" border=0 width="22" height="25" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> The <B>eyes</B> of the LORD</div> <div> <I>are</I> upon the righteous, </div> <div> and His ears are open</div> <div> to their cry.</div> <bR> <div> 16 <IMG SRC="18715150.gif" border=0 width="21" height="21" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> The <B>face</B> of the LORD</div> <div>  <I>is</I> against them that do evil, </div> <div> to cut off the remembrance of them </div> <div> from the earth.</div> <bR> <div> 17 <A NAME="17"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> <I><IMG SRC="16a141c0.gif" border=0 width="20" height="28" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The righteous</I> <B>cry</B>, </div> <div> and the LORD hears, </div> <div> and delivers them </div> <div> out of all their troubles.</div> <bR> <div> 18 <IMG SRC="18118200.gif" border=0 width="24" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> The LORD <I>is</I> <B>nigh</B> </div> <div> to a broken heart, </div> <div> and saves such as be</div> <div> of a contrite spirit.</div> <bR> <div> 19 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="OLBHEB" ><IMG SRC="186151a0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="26" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT><B>Many</B> <I>are</I> </div> <div> the afflictions of the righteous, </div> <div> and the LORD delivers </div> <div> him out of them all.</div> <bR> <div> 20  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="OLBHEB" ><IMG SRC="16d201b0.gif" border=0 width="32" height="27" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT>He <B>keeps</B> </div> <div> all his bones.</div> <div> not one</div> <div> of them is broken.</div> <bR> <div> 21  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="OLBHEB" ><IMG SRC="18518170.gif" border=0 width="24" height="23" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </FONT>Evil shall </div> <div> <B>slay</B> the wicked,</div> <div> and they that hate</div> <div> the righteous shall bear guilt.</div> <bR> <div> 22 The LORD redeems </div> <div> the soul of his servants,</div> <div> and none who trust </div> <div> in Him shall bear guilt.</div> <bR> <div> 1 Sam 21:10 <A NAME="1sam21_10"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> And David arose, and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.</div> <div> 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands?</div> <div> 12 And David took to heart these words, and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.</div> <div> 13 And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.</div> <div> 14 And Achish said to his servants, Behold, ye see the man is mad: why did ye bring him to me?</div> <div> 15 have I lack of madmen, that ye have brought this one to rave in my presence? shall this <I>man</I> come into my house?</div> <div>  <A NAME="1sam22_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>22:1  And David departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And his brethren and all his father's house heard <I>it</I>, and they went down thither to him.</div> <div> 2 And every one in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one of embittered spirit collected round him; and he became a captain over them; and there were with him about four hundred men.</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="heb11_37"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, died by the death of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, evil treated,</div> <div> 38 (of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts and mountains, and <I>in</I> dens and caves of the earth.</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="1sam14_52"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>1 Samuel 14:52 ... and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to himself.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>