This Psalm is split into two great divisions at the close of verse 10, when the psalmist having expressed his praise to God turns in direct address to men. The first ten verses are a hymn, and the last twelve a Sermon
C.H. Spurgeon
Verse 1. "I will bless the Lord at all times …" Mr Bradford, martyr, speaking of Queen Mary, at whose cruel mercy he then lay, said, "If the Queen be pleased to release me, I will thank her; if she will imprison me, I will thank her; if she will burn me, I will thank her." So says the believing soul: Let God do with me what He will, I will be thankful.
S Clarke
Verse 2 "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord &hellip" Can any boasting be greater than to say, "I can do all things"? Yet in this boasting there is humility when I add, "In Him that strengtheneth me." For though God likes not boasting, yet He likes that boasting which ascribes nothing to ourselves, but ascribes all to Him.
Sir Richard Baker
Verse 3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." Venema remarks that after the affair with Achish, we are told in 1 Samuel chapter 22 verse 1. "David's brethren, and all his fathers house went down to the cave Adullam unto him," and these, together with those who were in debt, and discontented with Saul's government, formed a band of four hundred men. To these his friends and comrades, David relates the story of his escape, and bids them with united hearts and voices to extol the Lord – "O magnify the Lord with me etc."
C. H. Spurgeon
Verse 4. "I sought the Lord, and he heard me …" God expects to hear from you before you can expect to hear from him."
Gurnall
Verse 4 "… and delivered me from all my fears." To have delivered me from all my troubles would have been a great favour, but a far greater is it to be delivered from all my fears.
Baker
Verse 6 "This poor man cries …" The reasons for crying are:
(i) Want cannot blush. The pinching necessity of the saints is not tied to the law of modesty. Hunger cannot be ashamed.
(ii) Fervour is a heavenly ingredient in prayer. Although God only hears our prayers because of Christ and not because of our fervour, yet fervour is a heavenly ingredient. An arrow drawn with full strength that a speedier issue; therefore, the prayers of the saints are expressed by "crying" in the scriptures.
(iii) The Lord hears our cries. "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him …" The "cry" adds wings to the prayer, as a speedy post sent to the court on an issue of life and death. "The righteous cry and the Lord heareth," verse 17.
Rutherford
Verse 7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him…" The believer may be assures of this, that when the angel's help is required by him they are encamped about him. In spite of doors, and locks, and bars, he may have their help in am moment's warning. There is no impediment with them, for, when it comes to power, they are spirits, and when it comes to willingness, it is their duty to care for the believer. Do they not rejoice at his salvation? Yes, they do, for "there is joy among the angels of heaven over one sinner saved." If this be the case, then, they will always be disposed to do anything for him as they camp about him.
Adapted from Zachary Bogan
Verse 8. "O taste as see that the Lord is good. …." Don't allow the good gifts of God to be swallowed down without tasting them, or wickedly forgotten. Use your spiritual palate. Taste them, and remember them.
D.H. Mollerus
Verse 10. "The young lions do lack and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." Take a survey of heaven and earth and all the things that are in them, and if there is anything that you are persuaded would do you eternally good, then, ask it confidently of Christ, and His love will not deny it to you. If it were good for you that there were no sin, no devil, no affliction, no destruction, the love of Christ would instantly abolish these. Nay, if the possession of all the kingdoms of the world were absolutely good for any saint, the love of Christ would instantly crown him monarch of them.
David Clarkson.
(Concluded in next issue.)
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 34 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 72 – placed on line May 2008 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |