Psalm 34.
Like Psalm 25, the verses of this psalm begin with the Hebrew letters in the order of the alphabet. It was written at the time of 1 Samuel 21:10-15,10And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 12And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? 15Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house? (1 Samuel 21:10‑15) we learn from the title, for "Abimelech," meaning "Father-king," was a title of the Philistine kings, like "Pharoah" for the Egyptian, and as "Caesar" was afterward for the Roman rulers.
David, fleeing from the wicked king Saul, had gone to Achish the king of Gath, but found no welcome there, and in terror for his life, for his faith was low, pretended to be insane. From thence he escaped to the cave of Adullam, and became the gathering center, the attraction that brought to the cave and to himself the distressed, those in debt, and those of embittered spirit, and David became a captain over them.
David's thoughts, led by the Holy Spirit at this time, thus become a part of the Scriptures. The first two verses tell the subject of the psalm; the force of it is in the words "at all times" (verse 1). David had learned to trust God at all times, and his heart was overflowing in thankfulness and praise. He calls upon the meek, the suffering saints, to magnify the Lord with him. Verse 4 is David's experience, and in verse 5 the same is foretold of those who should heed the word spoken.
Verses 6 to 10 appear to be the language of the Holy Spirit, and then from verse 11, David resumes-yet is it not more than David's word? It is Jesus who speaks from the experience of His own earthly path for the comfort and encouragement of those who should after pass through trial.
The whole psalm presents the saints in trial, but not in anxiety; having needs and in danger, but looking to God and resting in the security He gives. What harm could touch "them that fear Him," with the angel of the Lord encamped round about them? The lion in Scripture is a symbol of strength, yet the young lions are in need and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good. How encouraging to faith are these precious words of God!
Verses 12 to 16 are quoted by Peter in his first Epistle, chapter 3. The whole psalm sets livingly before us, God in His interest in those who trust Him and His needy saints quietly resting in His care, confident that in due time He will work their full deliverance. Faith may be tried (indeed we are sure it will be), and deliverance out of trial seem long in coming, but our trust is in the living God, and none who trust in Him will ever be confounded.
Messages of God’s Love 8/3/1930