Psalm 34

The background story for this song is in I Samuel 21:10-15.    David has been warned by his good friend, Jonathan, Saul's son, that Saul is seeking to kill him.  David flees, and makes it to the priest where he is supplied with weapons to fight with (the sword of Goliath, whom he'd killed in battle), and food to eat.  He leaves there and flees to Gath, where the leaders recognize him as the war hero of Israel.  David realizes that they may do him harm in fear of him, so he acts like an insane person in order to fool them.  They send him away without harm.

The song begins with praise to God and a request to others to magnify (declare His greatness) the Lord with him.  The primary purpose for the righteous is to glorify God.

This is a beautiful song about God's covenant love and care for His people. On our part, we are to actively seek Him.  We are to have a proper attitude toward Him and to seek peace, do good, and intentionally turn away from evil.  When we look to Him for help, our spirit is 'radiant', not downcast and sad, not ashamed,  but hopeful, joyful, peaceful and calm.  This describes the spirit of the one who trusts God.

David had reason to be downcast, afraid, and anxious.  He had reason to be broken hearted and crushed in spirit.   He describes himself as a poor man, lacking the resources to save himself.  But God provided.

David does not boast in his own means or actions. He does not become self-sufficient and proud.  Instead he claims God as his sole refuge and provider. When he cried out to God for help, God heard, and answered.   Verse 7 reminds me of the story in 2 Kings 6, where God opens the eyes of Elisha's servant to see the army of God encamped around them against the Syrian army who'd come to capture Elisha.

I love verse 8.....Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!    Tell others of the greatness of God and invite them to come to Him!  This invitation should flow effortlessly from a heart full of gratitude to Him for all He has done, and proper fear of Him because of his greatness.

God's eyes look toward the righteous......He is a covenant keeping God.  He will always be with His own, in any situation. He redeems our very lives, and we will not be condemned. We will have afflictions,  many of them, but He will deliver us! His face is against the wicked, however.  What a scary place to be!  The same afflictions that the righteous are rescued from, will 'slay' the wicked, for they have no help.They will b condemned.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

I am reminded of Psalm 51:17 ...God will not despise a broken spirit or a contrite heart.
And Isaiah 66:2b again.....God will look to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at his Word (a proper fear of Him).

What comfort!   More and more I am learning to run to Him when I face 'afflictions', and more and more I can praise and magnify the Lord with David!