Psalms 34:1

_I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES: HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH._ A thanksgiving of David for deliverance on the occasion of his 'changing his behaviour;' or, as Hengstenberg translates the TITLE, 'when he concealed his intellect' - i:e., feigned himself mad "before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed." Compare 1 Samuel 21:13, "He changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad ... and scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?" The general name Abimelech - i:e., father of a king (Genesis 20:1; Genesis 24:1), implying so heredi

1._I will bless Jehovah at all times. _(687) David here extols the greatness of God, promising to keep in remembrance during his whole life the goodness which he had bestowed upon him. God assists his people daily, that they may continually employ themselves in praising him; yet it is certain that the blessing which is said to be worthy of everlasting remembrance is distinguished by this mark from other benefits which are ordinary and common. This, therefore, is a rule which should be observed by the saints — they should often call into remembrance whatever good has been bestowed upon them by God; but if at any time he should display his power more illustriously in preserving them from some danger, so much the more does it become them earnestly to testify their gratitude. Now if by one benefit alone God lays us under obligation to himself all our life, so that we may never lawfully cease...

1-10 If we hope to spend eternity in praising God, it is fit that we should spend much of our time here in this work. He never said to any one, Seek ye me in vain. David's prayers helped to silence his fears; many besides him have looked unto the Lord by faith and prayer, and it has wonderfully revived and comforted them. When we look to the world, we are perplexed, and at a loss. But on looking to Christ depends our whole salvation, and all things needful thereunto do so also. This poor man, whom no man looked upon with any respect, or looked after with any concern, was yet welcome to the throne of grace; the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The holy angels minister to the saints, and stand for them against the powers of darkness. All the glory be to the Lord of the angels. By taste and sight we both make discoveries, and have enjoyment; Taste and see God's goodne...

PSALM XXXIV _David praises God, and exhorts others to do the same_, 1-3; _shows how he sought the Lord, and how he was found of him_, 4-6. _All are exhorted to taste and see the goodness of God; with_ _the assurance of support and comfort_, 7-10. _He shows the way to attain happiness and long life_, 11-16; _the privileges of the righteous, and of all who sincerely seek_ _God_, 17-22. NOTES ON PSALM XXXIV The _title_ states that this is "A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed." The history of this tran

I WILL BLESS THE LORD - I will praise him; I will be thankful for his mercies, and will always express my sense of his goodness. AT ALL TIMES - In every situation of life; in every event that occurs. The idea is, that he would do it publicly and privately; in prosperity and in adversity; in safety and in danger; in joy and in sorrow. It would be a great principle of his life, expressive of the deep feeling of his soul, that God was always to be regarded as an object of adoration and praise. HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH - I will be constantly uttering his praises; or, my thanks shall be unceasing. This expresses the “purpose” of the psalmist; and this is an indication of the nature of true piety. With a truly pious man the praise of God is constant; and it is an indication of true religion when a man is “disposed” always to bless God, whatever ma

EXPOSITION THIS is the third of the alphabetical psalms, and appears to have a special connection with the second of them, Psalms 25:1. Like that psalm, it omits the _vav_, and has a second _pe _at the end, which, moreover, is furnished by the same word (_podeh_). According to the title, it is a psalm of David, and written on the particular occasion of his dismissal by Achish (Ahimelech), when he had foolishly feigned himself mad in consequence of what he had heard the servants of Achish say (1 Samuel 21:10-9). As there is nothing in the psalm specially suggestive of this occasion, the statement in the title must, it would seem, embody an ancient tradition. It is a composition of a mixed character, being in part didactic ...

I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES,.... That is, ascribe blessing, give honour, praise, and glory to him, both as the God of nature and providence, for every temporal mercy; and that every day, and at all times in the day; since these are renewed every morning, and continue all the day long: and as the God of grace, for all spiritual blessings; and that continually, because these last always; they are irreversible, unchangeable, and without repentance; yea, saints have reason to bless God in times of adversity as well as prosperity, since it might have been worse with them than it is; they have a mixture of mercy in all, and all things work together for their good; HIS PRAISE [SHALL] CONTINUALLY [BE] IN MY MOUTH; not the "praise" of which God is the author, but of which he is the object; which is due unto him, and is given him on account of the perfections of his nature, and the works o...

Psalms 34:1. _I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth._ «Others may do what they please, and murmur, and complain, and be filled with dread and apprehension of the future; but I will bless the Lord at all times. I can always see something for which I ought to bless him. I can always see some good which will come out of blessing him. Therefore will I bless him at all times. And this.» says the Psalmist, «I will not only do in my heart, but I will do it with my tongue His praise shall continually be in my mouth,» that others may hear it, that others may begin to praise him, too, for murmuring is contagious, and so, thank God is praise; and one man may learn from another take the catchword and the keyword out of another man's mouth, and then begin to praise God with him. «His praise shall continually be in my mouth.» What a blessed mouthful! If so

Psalms 34 The Perfect Praise of His Redeemed People _ 1. His praise for salvation (Psalms 34:1)_ 2. The instructions of the righteous (Psalms 34:11) 3. His redemption remembered (Psalms 34:17) This is another alphabetical Psalm, only one letter is omitted. It is primarily the praise of David after his escape from Gath, as the inscription tells us. Prophetically it is the praise of His redeemed and delivered people, delivered from all their fears (Psalms 34:4) and saved out of all their troubles ...

XXXIV. YAHWEH'S CARE FOR HIS OWN. An acrostic Ps., the letter Waw being omitted as in Psalms 25. Yahweh's care of the poor who fear Him. Psalms 34:5. Read with LXX, look to him, be radiant, your faces. Psalms 34:7. The angel, _i.e._ the angel who represented Yahweh (_cf._ Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 63:9). The acrostic is complete with Psalms 34:21; Psalms 34:22 is an addition for liturgical use (_cf._...