Psalm 34--Taste and See That the LORD Is Good

Psalm 34
English Standard Version

Taste and See That the LORD Is Good
Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34 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.

---

It seems that while David was running from Saul that he sometimes ran to other people who should have been considered his enemies.  Abimelech is not someone that David should have been talking to and probably would have loved to kill David, but the LORD protected David (and the covenant that He had made with David) despite David's poor choice here.  I assume this is something similar as to what David did at Gath where he pretended to be a madman as both instances say that David "changed his countenance." 

David understands that if he trusts in the LORD, he need not fear anyone or anything else.  He also says that he knows that "the angel of the LORD" (we know Him better as Jesus, the second person of the Trinity) encamps among His people and defends and saves them.  We can take refuge in the LORD and know that He will not withhold anything that we need.  It was important at this time and in the place for the LORD to show that He was please with His people by the blessings He poured out on them.  When they were walking right with Him, they were in a place to have His favor poured out on them, but when they were living contrary to God's plan, then His blessings would be withheld to show them that they needed to repent.  Now God's people have the Holy Spirit living inside of us to tell us when we are doing what is right or wrong--though God still sometimes uses this method of positive and negative reinforcement in our lives.

David encourages the people to control their tongues and keep their tongues from evil.  We know James said that if any man is perfect, he will control his tongue.  Our words reveal what is really going on in our hearts.

The LORD turns towards the righteous to give them His attention when they cry out for help, but the LORD turns away from the wicked--not even revealing Himself to them.  He will cause the wicked to be cut off from the earth and forgotten.  He heals the brokenhearted as no one else can do.

Don't miss the prophecy here about Jesus in this last part--none of His bones would be broken.  Jesus is the only one who is truly righteous, so these promises are from Him.  Then comes the promises for those who take refuge in the person and work of Jesus (who are simply the "servants" of God)--they are redeemed and will never be condemned.