Psalm 34

Peter’s Use of this Psalm

1 Peter 2:3 ESV

3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

(quoting Psalm 34:8)

But Peter quotes this Psalm more extensively in chapter 3:10-12.

1 Peter 3:10–12 ESV

10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Seeing how Peter uses Psalm 34 helps us see the richness of what David is doing in Psalm 34. As Peter saw, Psalm 34prepares us to suffer. It is not only a call for God’s people to celebrate with David his deliverance from affliction, but also, as we do so, to prepare ourselves for our own afflictions, whether already present or coming.

We see it in the very first line:

Psalm 34:1 ESV

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

To say I will praise the Lord at all times, suggests that there are some times that we are not as inclined to praise the Lord than at other times.

David, having come through his own affliction (the superscript notes the time his life was under threat among the Philistines in 1 Samuel 21:10–15) he says, “I will bless the Lord at all times.”

So when we come to verse 8:

Psalm 34:8 ESV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

David issues a call to see that God is good even when life experience is not good. This was the encouragement that Peter offered the afflicted believers to whom he wrote.

This is a call to trust the Lord against all odds. To rest in Him when there seems to be no way out.

The reality of the Christian is declared in verse 19:

Psalm 34:19 ESV

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

the declaration that believers will be delivered out of all our afflictions is a call to look forward, even beyond our death. We are secure in Him.

And yet, these are not empty platitudes. David understands the reality of life:

Psalm 34:18 ESV

18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

We experience heart ache. We experience times of deep sorrow. But we cannot loose sight of the fact that our Shepherd is sovereign in His care for us:

Psalm 34:20 ESV

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

Lets’s read the text. Please stand as we read God’s Word together.

Psalm 34 ESV

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. 1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be 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 around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in 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 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.