Psalms 34:15

_THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR CRY._ The righteous. "The righteous" here answer to "them that fear Him," and "that hope in His mercy" (Psalms 33:18). So that by the righteous not absolute righteousness is meant, but the righteousness of faith sincerity, justice, and godliness. [pe (p)]...

15._The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous. _The best support of our patience is a firm persuasion that God regards us, and that according as every man perseveres in a course of uprightness and equity, so shall he be preserved in peace and safety under his protection. In order, therefore, that the faithful may not think that they are exposed to the caprice of the world, while they are endeavoring to keep themselves innocent, and that they may not, under the influence of this fear, go astray from the right path, David exhorts them to reflect upon the providence of God, and to rest assured that they are safe under his wings. He says, then, that _the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, _to preserve them, in order that the good and simple may persevere the more cheerfully in their uprightness. At the same time, he encourages them to supplication and prayer, if at any time the world...

11-22 Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all bliss is perfect? Alas! few have this good in their thoughts. That religion promises best which creates watchfulness over the heart and over the tongue. It is not enough not to do hurt, we must study to be useful, and to live to some purpose; we must seek peace and pursue it; be willing to deny ourselves a great deal for peace' sake. It is the constant practice of real believers, when in distress, to cry unto God, and it is their constant comfort that he hears them. Th...

THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS - This is another of the ways in which the psalmist says that life will be lengthened out, or that those who desire life may find it. The Lord will be the protector of the righteous; he will watch over and defend them. See the notes at Job 36:7. AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR CRY - That is, when in trouble and in danger. He will hear them, and will deliver them. All this seems to be stated as the result of the experience of the psalmist himself; He had found that the eyes of God had been upon him in his dangers, and that His ears had been open when he called upon Him Psalms 34:6; and now, from his own experience, he assures others that the way to secure life and to find prosperity is to pursue such a

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 ...

THE EYES OF THE LORD [ARE] UPON THE RIGHTEOUS,.... These are the same with them that fear the Lord, and do good; not that they become righteous in the sight of God, or are justified before him, by their fear of him, and by their good works; but these are the fruits and effects of grace, showing them to be righteous persons; for it is only by the righteousness of Christ that men are righteous before God: and upon these the eyes of the Lord are; not only his eye of Providence, to watch over them, protect them, and supply them with good things, but his eye of love; with complacency and delight he looks upon them, as clothed with the righteousness of his son; and it is with pleasure he looks upon them, that being well pleasing in his sight; seeing by it the law is magnified and made honourable; nor does he ever withdraw his eyes from them, Job 36:7; and his ears [are open] unto their cry

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._...

EARS. Figure of speech, _Anthropopatheia._ App-6....