Divine Protection and Wisdom in Psalm 34

Psalm 34

1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

9 O fear the LORD, you his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 34 provides a beautiful blueprint for a life of trust, gratitude, and divine protection, emphasizing that the Lord is intimately near to those who approach Him with a humble heart. 🌟

Seeking the Lord and Finding Deliverance

When we seek the Lord earnestly, He promises to hear us and deliver us from all our fears Psalms 34:4. Those who look to Him find that their faces are lightened and they are never put to shame Psalms 34:5BTS January 1, 1908, par. 2. God does not despise the cry of the afflicted; rather, the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him to deliver them Psalms 34:6-7ST September 8, 1898, par. 7. We are invited to personally taste and see that the Lord is good, for there is no want to those who truly fear Him Psalms 34:8-9. While even the strong may suffer hunger, those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing Psalms 34:10.

The Nature of True Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the very beginning of wisdom and the foundation of all real prosperity Psalms 111:10BTS January 1, 1908, par. 2+1. To fear the Lord means to depart from evil and to hate pride, arrogance, and a fraudulent mouth Proverbs 8:13GCDB February 12, 1897, page 10.13+1. Practical godliness involves keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking guile Psalms 34:13ST December 16, 1889, par. 6. True understanding is demonstrated by departing from evil and seeking peace with a persistent heart Psalms 34:148T 280.2. This wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing we can desire is to be compared to it Proverbs 3:15CT 50.2.

God’s Nearness to the Contrite

One of the most comforting truths is that the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saves those of a contrite spirit Psalms 34:18COL 174.1+1. A broken and contrite heart is a sacrifice that God will never despise Psalms 51:1711LtMs, Lt 87, 1896, par. 30+1. He dwells in the high and holy place but also with those who are humble in spirit to revive them Isaiah 57:154BC 1148.6+1. When we realize our own helplessness and feel our need of a Saviour, we find that the King of kings bends low to listen to our sincere petitions3MR 28.1+1.

Prosperity and Protection for the Righteous

The eyes of the Lord are continually upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry Psalms 34:15ST December 16, 1889, par. 6. Though the righteous may face many afflictions, the Lord delivers them out of them all Psalms 34:19ST September 8, 1898, par. 7. God is a present help in every time of trouble, and those who trust in Him will find that He is their strength5MR 174.4+1. This life of godliness is profitable for all things, carrying promises for the life that now is and for the eternity to come 1 Timothy 4:8CTBH 14.1. Those who walk in this path are alive to life's real pleasures and are free from the vain regrets of the worldCTBH 14.1+1.