Psalm 34:1-7
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
What testimony does David offer?
What does he ask others to join him in doing?
Reflect
Have you ever spent time with a child who was bubbling over with excitement? I remember a long car ride with my young cousin where he talked the entire time. Having just returned from Disney World, he couldn’t wait to tell me everything. The words tumbled out of his mouth in a rush. In incredible detail, he told me about every ride he went on, every character he saw, and every meal he ate. He couldn’t help but share his enthusiasm over what he’d experienced.
While most of us grow out of some of the exuberance we felt as a child, we still talk excitedly about experiences that matter to us. When something wonderful happens, we can’t wait to tell someone. It’s even better if it is something that they can share in, because then we encourage them to get excited too.
This is the tone of Psalm 34. David is so grateful and amazed by what the Lord has done, and is so convinced that he will do the same thing for others, that he invites all God’s people to share in his enthusiasm.
Psalm 34 challenges us to recognize and rejoice in the presence and activity of God in our lives. When we do, we will praise the Lord all the time! If we think of all that he has done, is doing, and will do for us, we will glorify his name. When we reflect on the peace he offers, the salvation he provides, and the promises that he’ll be faithful to deliver, his praise will always be on our lips. We will not only glory in the Lord, we will encourage those who are struggling to rejoice with us. Why? Because we trust that he hears us in our distress and answers.
Here David is giving his personal testimony. From experience, he knows that he can go to God with his troubles and God will respond. Commentators tell us that the verb translated “sought” is “never used of seeking someone or something whose location is unknown…such seeking is serious, purposeful searching, not confused wondering or wandering.”[1] God has made himself available to his people. He is not hidden from us. He does not ask us to jump through religious hoops. We don’t need to wonder if he will hear. The Lord invites us to come to him for help and trust that he will respond in whatever way is best.
There is a radiance that comes from trusting the Lord’s response, from knowing that your faith in him will never bring you shame. It’s never foolish to trust in God. This doesn’t mean that every prayer will be answered the way we envision, but it will be answered in the way that is best. I like the way Pastor Tim Keller explains it: “God always answers your prayers in precisely the way you want them to be answered if you knew everything he knew.”
Let Psalm 34 both comfort you and challenge you to be evermore mindful of God’s presence in your life. Praise him quickly and turn to him easily because he is right there with you.
[1] Gerald H. Wilson, Psalms, vol. 1, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 568.
Are you quick to praise God for who he is and all he has done for you? Even in tough times? Do you believe that he is always working for your good? If not, what prevents you?
Is the first thing you do when you encounter difficulty turn to God? Why or why not?
Respond
Psalm 34 encourages us to pray. Take some time to do so now. Also consider how you can encourage others to praise God and turn to him. Who can you share your testimony of God’s goodness with?