12 What man H376 is he that desireth H2655 life, H2416 and loveth H157 many days, H3117 that he may see H7200 good? H2896
13 Keep H5341 thy tongue H3956 from evil, H7451 and thy lips H8193 from speaking H1696 guile. H4820
14 Depart H5493 from evil, H7451 and do H6213 good; H2896 seek H1245 peace, H7965 and pursue H7291 it.
15 The eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 are upon the righteous, H6662 and his ears H241 are open unto their cry. H7775
16 The face H6440 of the LORD H3068 is against them that do H6213 evil, H7451 to cut off H3772 the remembrance H2143 of them from the earth. H776
17 The righteous cry, H6817 and the LORD H3068 heareth, H8085 and delivereth H5337 them out of all their troubles. H6869
18 The LORD H3068 is nigh H7138 unto them that are of a broken H7665 heart; H3820 and saveth H3467 such as be of a contrite H1793 spirit. H7307
19 Many H7227 are the afflictions H7451 of the righteous: H6662 but the LORD H3068 delivereth H5337 him out of them all.
20 He keepeth H8104 all his bones: H6106 not one H259 of them H2007 is broken. H7665
21 Evil H7451 shall slay H4191 the wicked: H7563 and they that hate H8130 the righteous H6662 shall be desolate. H816
22 The LORD H3068 redeemeth H6299 the soul H5315 of his servants: H5650 and none of them that trust H2620 in him shall be desolate. H816
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 34
Commentary on Psalms 34 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 34
This psalm was penned upon a particular occasion, as appears by the title, and yet there is little in it peculiar to that occasion, but that which is general, both by way of thanksgiving to God an instruction to us.
So that, in singing this psalm, we are both to give glory to God and to teach and admonish ourselves and one another.
A psalm of David when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
Psa 34:1-10
The title of this psalm tells us both who penned it and upon what occasion it was penned. David, being forced to flee from his country, which was made too hot for him by the rage of Saul, sought shelter as near it as he could, in the land of the Philistines. There it was soon discovered who he was, and he was brought before the king, who, in the narrative, is called Achish (his proper name), here Abimelech (his title); and lest he should be treated as a spy, or one that came thither upon design, he feigned himself to be a madman (such there have been in every age, that even by idiots men might be taught to give God thanks for the use of their reason), that Achish might dismiss him as a contemptible man, rather than take cognizance of him as a dangerous man. And it had the effect he desired; by this stratagem he escaped the hand that otherwise would have handled him roughly. Now,
Psa 34:11-22
David, in this latter part of the psalm, undertakes to teach children. Though a man of war, and anointed to be king, he did not think it below him; though now he had his head so full of cares and his hands of business, yet he could find heart and time to give good counsel to young people, from his own experience. It does not appear that he had now any children of his own, at least any that were grown up to a capacity of being taught; but, by divine inspiration, he instructs the children of his people. Those that were in years would not be taught by him, though he had offered them his service (Ps. 32:8); but he had hopes that the tender branches will be more easily bent and that children and young people will be more tractable, and therefore he calls together a congregation of them (v. 11): "Come, you children, that are now in your learning age, and are now to lay up a stock of knowledge which you must live upon all your days, you children that are foolish and ignorant, and need to be taught.' Perhaps he intends especially those children whose parents neglected to instruct and catechise them; and it is as great a piece of charity to put those children to school whose parents are not in a capacity to teach them as to feed those children whose parents have not bread for them. Observe,
In singing these verses let us be confirmed in the choice we have made of the ways of God; let us be quickened in his service, and greatly encouraged by the assurances he has given of the particular care he takes of all those that faithfully adhere to him.