GODLY LIFESTYLE WHEN AFFLICTED

Passage: Psalm 34:1-22

Key verse: 12-14

NIV

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.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(AJ)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(AK)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(AL)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(AM)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(AN) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(AO) in him will be condemned.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

[a] Of David, when he (A)changed his behavior before (B)Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34 I will bless the Lord (C)at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul (D)makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and (E)be glad.
3 Oh, (F)magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I (G)sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are (H)radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 (I)This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and (J)saved him out of all his troubles.
7 (K)The angel of the Lord (L)encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, (M)taste and see that (N)the Lord is good!
    (O)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 (P)The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who (Q)seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 (R)Come, O children, listen to me;
    (S)I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 (T)What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may (U)see good?
13 (V)Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from (W)speaking deceit.
14 (X)Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and (Y)pursue it.

15 (Z)The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    (AA)and his ears toward their cry.
16 (AB)The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to (AC)cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 (AD)When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to (AE)the brokenhearted
    and saves (AF)the crushed in spirit.

19 (AG)Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    (AH)but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    (AI)not one of them is broken.
21 (AJ)Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord (AK)redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be (AL)condemned.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Suffering often brings out the worst in us. When under affliction and stress, we may complain, curse, and treat others poorly. We may neglect our relationship with God to focus on our problems or we may even blame God for those problems.

David experienced severe afflictions. Psalm 34 is David’s response when he had to pretend to be insane before the king of Gath (1 Sa 21:10-15). God delivered him. Then David praised and glorified God. He sought God in prayer who delivered him and saved him from all his troubles. David was able to escape from the king of Gath, not by his own wits, but because God delivered him.

Then David invites his people to also experience God’s goodness in their lives. Even strong lions grow weak and hungry, but those who seek God will not lack for good things. A right relationship with God begins with fearing him. This is reflected in how we speak (13), deliberately turning from evil to good, and seeking peace (14). We are not to respond to suffering with complaints but with prayer. Christians are especially called to reflect this Christ-like behavior when we suffer (1 Pe 3:10-12). Though we may face many troubles, the LORD promises to deliver us from them all (19).

Prayer: Father, please forgive me for complaining about small sufferings. Help me to honor you.

One Word: Keep your tongue from evil