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
Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Behold, I will set H7760 my face H6440 against you for evil, H7451 and to cut off H3772 all Judah. H3063
And whatsoever man H376 there be of the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 or of the strangers H1616 that sojourn H1481 among H8432 you, that eateth H398 any manner of blood; H1818 I will even set H5414 my face H6440 against that soul H5315 that eateth H398 blood, H1818 and will cut him off H3772 from among H7130 his people. H5971
And though they go H3212 into captivity H7628 before H6440 their enemies, H341 thence will I command H6680 the sword, H2719 and it shall slay H2026 them: and I will set H7760 mine eyes H5869 upon them for evil, H7451 and not for good. H2896
The LORD H3068 is King H4428 for ever H5769 and ever: H5703 the heathen H1471 are perished H6 out of his land. H776
And so H3651 I saw H7200 the wicked H7563 buried, H6912 who had come H935 and gone H1980 from the place H4725 of the holy, H6918 and they were forgotten H7911 in the city H5892 where they had so done: H6213 this is also vanity. H1892
For every one H376 of the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 or of the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 in Israel, H3478 which separateth H5144 himself from me, H310 and setteth up H5927 his idols H1544 in his heart, H3820 and putteth H7760 the stumblingblock H4383 of his iniquity H5771 before H5227 his face, H6440 and cometh H935 to a prophet H5030 to enquire H1875 of him concerning me; I the LORD H3068 will answer H6030 him by myself: And I will set H5414 my face H6440 against that man, H376 and will make H8074 him a sign H226 and a proverb, H4912 and I will cut him off H3772 from the midst H8432 of my people; H5971 and ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068
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.