THE LORD DELIVERS THOSE WHO FEAR HIM
Passage: Psalm 34:1~22  
Key verse: 4
Psalm 34[a][b]Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory(C) in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
3 Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
let us exalt(F) his name together.
4 I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
7 The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers(M) them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
9 Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
seek peace(Z) and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory(C) in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
3 Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
let us exalt(F) his name together.
4 I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
7 The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers(M) them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
9 Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
seek peace(Z) and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Footnotes
- Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
Cross references
- Psalm 34:1 : 1Sa 21:13
- Psalm 34:1 : Ps 71:6; S Eph 5:20; 1Th 5:18
- Psalm 34:2 : Ps 44:8; Jer 9:24; 1Co 1:31
- Psalm 34:2 : Ps 69:32; 107:42; 119:74
- Psalm 34:3 : Ps 63:3; 86:12; Da 4:37; Jn 17:1; Ro 15:6
- Psalm 34:3 : S Ex 15:2
- Psalm 34:4 : S Ex 32:11; Ps 77:2
- Psalm 34:4 : ver 17; Ps 18:43; 22:4; 56:13; 86:13
- Psalm 34:5 : S Ex 34:29
- Psalm 34:5 : Ps 25:3; 44:15; 69:7; 83:16
- Psalm 34:6 : S Ps 25:17
- Psalm 34:7 : S Ge 32:1; S Da 3:28; S Mt 18:10
- Psalm 34:7 : Ps 22:4; 37:40; 41:1; 97:10; Isa 31:5; Ac 12:11
- Psalm 34:8 : Heb 6:5; 1Pe 2:3
- Psalm 34:8 : S Ps 2:12
- Psalm 34:9 : S Dt 6:13; Rev 14:7
- Psalm 34:9 : S Ps 23:1
- Psalm 34:10 : S Ps 23:1
- Psalm 34:11 : Ps 66:16
- Psalm 34:11 : S Ps 32:8
- Psalm 34:11 : S Ps 19:9
- Psalm 34:12 : Ecc 3:13
- Psalm 34:13 : Ps 39:1; 141:3; Pr 13:3; 21:23; Jas 1:26
- Psalm 34:13 : S Ps 12:2; 1Pe 2:22
- Psalm 34:14 : Ps 37:27; Isa 1:17; 3Jn 1:11
- Psalm 34:14 : S Ro 14:19
- Psalm 34:15 : Ps 33:18
- Psalm 34:15 : S Job 23:10; S 36:7
- Psalm 34:15 : Mal 3:16; S Jn 9:31
- Psalm 34:16 : Lev 17:10; Jer 23:30
- Psalm 34:16 : 1Pe 3:10-12*
- Psalm 34:16 : S Ex 17:14; Ps 9:6
- Psalm 34:17 : Ps 145:19
- Psalm 34:18 : Dt 4:7; Ps 119:151; 145:18; Isa 50:8
- Psalm 34:18 : Ps 51:17; 109:16; 147:3; Isa 61:1
- Psalm 34:19 : ver 17; Ps 25:17
- Psalm 34:19 : S Job 5:19; 2Ti 3:11
- Psalm 34:20 : Jn 19:36*
- Psalm 34:21 : Ps 7:9; 9:16; 11:5; 37:20; 73:27; 94:23; 106:43; 112:10; 140:11; Pr 14:32; 24:16
- Psalm 34:22 : S Ex 6:6; S 15:13; Lk 1:68; Rev 14:3
- Psalm 34:22 : Ps 2:12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Can you feel David's exuberance in this psalm? He was determined that God's praise would always be on his lips and he wanted others to join with him in worshipping God as well. The reason for his joy was simple. When he was taken captive in a Philistine city, David cried out to the LORD in his time of need. The LORD heard his cry and delivered him from all his enemies. The joy David experienced is available to everyone who fears the LORD. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and they are delivered. David invites us to experience this for ourselves. Put your trust in the LORD. Taste and see that he is good!
2. The LORD delivers the righteous (11-22)
What does it mean to fear the LORD? David says we are to keep our tongues from evil and our lips from lying. Even more, we are to turn from evil and do good. Doing so honors and glorifies God. The righteous enjoy God's full protection. He hears their prayers, and-even though they may have many troubles-he delivers his people from them all. The brokenhearted can take comfort in the knowledge that God is near, and he will save them.
Prayer: Father, we commit ourselves to you.
One Word: The LORD will rescue his servants