Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 34
xxxiv. PSALM.
For his deliverance mentioned in the title, David, in the ravishing apprehension thereof, excites himself and others to praise the Lord greatly, and to believe in him so too, promising as he sped, so should they in so doing, be their danger never so great, and their help humanely never so small. He would have them that doubt it but try him by trusting, and assureth them they shall experimentally find all true that he sayes touching Gods goodness. And out of his duty to God and love to the godly he instructs them as a prophet, and from his own experience, how to out-live temptations and afflictions, and be happy and blessed; to wit, by eschewing evil and doing good; for to such and such onelyonly the Lord is good and gracious, for the wicked shall certainly smart for their wickedness, it shall cost them their undoing.
A Psalm made by David, Psalm xxxiv. A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech: who drove him away, and he departed.when as, being forced to flie from Saul, and not knowing where to be safe in Israel, he betook himself to Gath of the Philistins, where being known, by reason of his late conquest of Goliah, and hated for the destruction that befel their Host thereby, he was therefore in great danger, and put to his shifts to feign himself mad, for which being contemned of the King he was dismissed his presence, and so escaped again to Judea.
1 SO great hath been the goodness and power of God in my behalf,1I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. as that I will never forget to magnifie him for it, but will ever bear it in remembrance and continually be speaking of his praise-worthy mercies to me in my deliverance.
2 Yea,2My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. from my very soul and inmost affections will I praise him, and confidently tell both what he hath done, and what thereupon I believe he will do for me, whereby I shall I am sure incourage all self-denying believers to the worlds end, to hope in him in trouble and adversity, and for present shall have such as fear God, and wish me well, partakers of my joy.
3 And such I call upon to help me in exalting the Lord,3O magnifie the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. and with heart and voice to joyn with me in magnifying his loving-kindness and power, the better to amplifie his praises.
4I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.4 For I in mine extremity put up my prayers faithfully and fervently to the Lord, and was presently answered, and freed from my dangers by his good providence.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.5 And as it was with me, so shall it be for certain with other his people, that from mine example humbly rely upon him, and in extremity not knowing which way to turn them, with fervency of spirit by faithful prayer and ejaculation cast their eyes towards heaven, they shall find favour, and have a way shewed them to escape in the greatest and doubtfullest dangers, nor shall they have cause to hide their heads, because of their miscarrying, for God will deliver them, and they shall praise him.
6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him; and saved him out of all his troubles.6 They shall make me their instance and incouragement of their faith, how that as I in my poor and hazardous condition cried to the Lord for mercy, and was graciously heard and delivered, so they shall take heart to do the like in a like estate, in confidence of like success from God, who is graciously pittiful to all that in affliction faithfully seek to him, as I did.
7The Angel of the Lord, encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.7 Nor matters it how humanely helpless and desolate any such seem to be, for God hath given his faithful and obedient people in charge to Christ, and his ministering spirits the holy Angels, to yield them divine assistance, who accordingly have a watchful eye over them to prevent their hurt and procure their good, maugre all their enemies▪
8O tast & see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in him.8 Make but proof of God as I have done by believing in him and relying on him, and you shall find him no worse, but by faith and experience shall be able to affirm him as I do, to be sensibly gracious and good to such as seek to him, for it is as true and undeniable as any thing can be, that he certainly and he alone is blessed, and shall be happy that makes him and him onelyonly his trust and confidence.
9 O therefore stick close to the Lord you that are his people,9O fear the Lord ye his Saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. and depart not from him, be your temptation what it will be, by mistrust or misdoing, for be sure of it you shall not want the Lords gracious presence with you, and providence for you, if you so do.
10 Faithfully relying upon,10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. and seeking to the Lord, is the most effectual and prosperous way any man can take, all else is fallible; wisdom, strength, whatsoever is relied upon. Though a man had the force and courage of the stoutest lion, yet, as they notwithstanding theirs go without their prey till providence supply it them, so shall he notwithstanding his, of what he stands in need, if he seek it not of God, who onelyonly is to be confided in, and sought to for whatsoever we need or desire, for to such hath he engaged himself as farre as is desireable, even to give them what is good for them, whatever else they want, God and his goodness shall be theirs to their hearts contentment.
11 Come all ye that are the children of the most High,11Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. and as dear to me, as mine, and that in love and meekness desire to walk well-pleasingly towards God. Give ear to what I say as an experienced man and true Prophet: And it shall shew you your hearts desire, even how to walk acceptably with him.
12 What man is he that doth desire to out-live his enemies,12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many dayes that he may see good? and the miseries he sustains by them, and would be blessed of God with a long and happy life, which though all would have, yet all men take not the way to get, but by their sin procure themselves misery and destruction, therefore hearken thou to such instructions as will effect it.
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.13 Do what God commands thee in word and deed, refrain thy tongue and lips from revengeful slaunders, or deceivable lies to or against any.
14Depart from evil, and do good: seek peace and pursue it.14 Be not tempted or enticed either by the provocations of thy nature, or the worlds corruptions to wrong or deceit, and on the contrary study and endeavour to walk holily and righteously in all things towards God and men, in all manner of well-doing, seek the favour of God carefully, maintain peace with men and pursue it earnestly, with the uttermost self-denial, in meek, holy, and righteous walking.
15The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.15 For onelyonly they are in favour with God, and have the eyes of the Lord watchful over them for good, that are good, and he is very inclinable to hear the cries of such in affliction, and to send them relief accordingly.
16The face of the Lord is against them that do evil; to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.16 But on the contrary in stead of a long and happy life, the anger of the Lord is against them that are evil, whom by his judgements he shall in justice cut off, both them and theirs.
17The righteous cry, & the Lord heareth; and delivereth them out of all their troubles.17 The good its true may be afflicted as well as the bad, but with this difference, that they have the Lord to go, and bewail themselves, unto; and the Lord hath promised to hear them, and hath approved himself manifoldly as good as his word, and so will still to such, for if they call, he will answer, and ease them of their troubles.
18The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart: and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.18 For the Lord is apt to pitty them that he sees humbled under his afflicting hand, and very ready to relieve them in their extremities; and doth deliver them that self-judgeingly in the sense of their unworthiness in time of misery seek to him for mercy.
19 Those that are righteous and live godly,19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. have many enemies, and suffer as many if not more trials and afflictions than do the wicked, but still as I say with this difference, the Lord that brings them in, leads them out.
20 And spite of all the power and malice of their enemies,20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. who if they could would grind them to powder, yet shall they not be able to fasten the least evil upon them, which the wise providence of God not appointed for their good, for he keeps them so safe, that not so much as their little finger shall take hurt, or a hair of their head perish by any will or power of man.
21 But now contrary-wise,21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. the malicious evil wayes of the wicked shall be their utter ruine, and they that wickedly persecute the godly, shall in stead of compassing their destruction, procure their own and their posterities for ever.
22 Whereas for the comfort of the godly,22The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. let the lives of his people that faithfully trust in him, and dutifully serve him, be it never such hazard and danger by the power of their enemies, yet he that redeemed their souls from everlasting destruction, can and will preserve and deliver them; I can put a probatum est unto it; and none of all those that depend upon him and trust in him, shall be destroyed by the wrath of man, as shall the wicked by the wrath of God, for he will preserve them, I know by experience.