Written by David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, causing the king to send him away.
When David pretended to be insane, then he was not trusting in Jehovah. He was testing in his own methods. Jehovah saved David in spite of a lack of faith. Even men with strong Bible doctrine can experience temporary lapses of faith. David wrote this song after his lapse of faith.
34:1 I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.
David will continually praise Jehovah at all times, even when things are going bad for him.
34:2 I will boast in the Lord; let the oppressed hear and rejoice!
David was to become the anointed king of Israel, but he did not boast of his position. Instead, he boasted in Jehovah. He asked the oppressed people to hear his boasting in the Lord so that they could rejoice.
34:3 Magnify the Lord with me! Let’s praise his name together!
David asked the congregation to join him in praising Jehovah.
34:4 I sought the Lord’s help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
David was in trouble, so he asked Jehovah to help him. Jehovah answered him and delivered him from his fears.
34:5 Those who look to him for help are happy; their faces are not ashamed.
David reminded the congregation that if they want to be happy, then they need to look to Jehovah. If a man does not study and apply Bible doctrine at the deepest level, then he will not be satisfied with his life. He will become a part of the satanic world system, become depressed, and become a sad and angry person until the day of his death.
34:6 This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard; he saved him from all his troubles.
Those who study and apply Bible doctrine will be oppressed by the evil beings of the satanic world system. Prayer is the believer’s weapon. A believer with strong Bible doctrine will know when and how to pray. Jehovah will hear these prayers and save the believer from his troubles.
34:7 The Lord’s angel camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.
The Angel of the Lord is the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. He gives personal protection to all of His loyal followers. His loyal followers are those who study and apply Bible doctrine. Baby Christians are not loyal followers. They are saved for eternity by the Lord Jesus Christ, but they are compromisers who are living in the satanic world system.
34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!
David commanded the people to give Jehovah a try so that they could see that He was good. Those who take shelter in Jehovah will be blessed.
34:9 Remain loyal to the Lord, you chosen people of his, for his loyal followers lack nothing!
The chosen people are Israel. They were commanded to remain loyal to Jehovah. The loyal followers were those Jews who studied and applied the Bible doctrine of the Mosaic Law.
34:10 Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Young lions may go without food, but those who serve Jehovah will be provided with food, clothing, and shelter.
34:11 Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.
David asked the children to listen to his teachings. He will teach them how to fear the Lord. Many modern parents do not teach their children the Word of God at the deepest level. They send their children into the satanic world system as lambs to be devoured.
34:12 Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?
David asked the congregation if they wanted to live a long and prosperous life.
34:13 Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech!
The Jews living under the Mosaic Law were required to use their speech to praise and teach about Jehovah. They were not to use their tongue for evil and deceptive speech.
34:14 Turn away from evil and do what is right! Strive for peace and promote it!
David commanded the congregation to turn from evil, do what is right, strive for peace, and promote peace. The Hebrew word for peace is שָׁל֣וֹם (shalom), meaning peace with God. Jews and Gentiles receive peace by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
34:15 The Lord pays attention to the godly and hears their cry for help.
The godly are those believers who study and apply Bible doctrine. Believers with strong Bible doctrine will be attacked, because they are causing problems for the satanic world system. When they pray, God answers and delivers them. Satan hates prayer because it impedes His program to keep people in the dark.
34:16 But the Lord opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth.
When the Millennial Kingdom comes down to earth, then evil men will be exterminated during the Great Tribulation. They will no longer exist on this earth.
34:17 The godly cry out and the Lord hears; he saves them from all their troubles.
The godly are those believers who study and apply Bible doctrine. They will be attacked by evil forces. They will pray to God. God will hear their prayers and make their ministry even more effective.
34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.
God takes care of those who are brokenhearted and discouraged.
34:19 The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them.
The satanic world system will come after the ones who study and apply Bible doctrine, but Jehovah will save them so that they can continue his service.
34:20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
The righteous will have their bones protected from being broken. John 19:36 records this as a prophecy of the Messiah. The Romans attempted to break the bones of Jesus on the cross, but they were not able to do so. His bones were not broken on the cross.
34:21 Evil people self-destruct; those who hate the godly are punished.
Evil people will destroy themselves with their own sin. Those who hate the godly will be sent into the Lake of Fire for eternity. The men of the satanic world system hate Jesus, because Jesus judges their sin. Since Jesus is no longer on earth, then men of the satanic world system turn their hatred towards Christians.
34:22 The Lord rescues his servants; all who take shelter in him escape punishment.
Those who are serving God have been given a divine task. Jehovah will not only give them the means to complete the task, but He will also protect them as well.