DAWN

     Explanation: Psalm 34 is one of nine acrostic Psalms. In the Psalm David praises God for deliverance, encourages others to trust God as he did, and presents God as the judge of the wicked. David closes with assurances that the wicked will be desolate; but the righteous will not be desolate. Desolation is the theme of today's painting.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 21:10-15. ACROSTIC PSALMS: Psalm 9. Psalm 10. Psalm 25. Psalm 34. Psalm 37. Psalm 111. Psalm 112. Psalm 119. Psalm 145. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 34 - #1. Psalm 34 - #2. Psalm 34 - #3. ]

     When David was surrounded by his enemies in the court of King Abimelech [Achish], he tricked them into thinking he was mad; and the king sent him away. For this escape he constantly blessed the LORD who allowed the subterfuge to work (1). He boasts, therefore, in the LORD, not in his own cleverness (2). And he calls on those who hear of his escape to magnify the LORD with him (3). When he sought the LORD, the LORD delivered him from all of his fears (4). Likewise all of those who looked to the LORD were delivered (5). Again he says that when he cried out to the LORD the LORD heard him and delivered him from all of his fears (6). This is to be expected since the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them (7). So he exhorts his hearers to taste and see that the LORD is good and that he blesses those who trust in him (8). And he exhorts them to reverence the LORD because there is no lack to those who do so (9). Even strong, young lions suffer lack; but those who seek the LORD will not want any good thing (10). Therefore, David exhorts his readers to learn the fear of the LORD (11). He asks who among them wants life and good things (12). He exhorts such to keep their tongue from evil and their lips from speaking deceit (13). He tells them to depart from evil, to do good, to seek peace, and to pursue it (14). He reminds them that the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and he hears their cry (15). But, by contrast, the LORD cuts off those who do evil (16). And, again, he tells them that the righteous cry and the LORD hears and delivers them (17). The LORD is near to those who are of a broken heart and a contrite spirit (18). Many are the afflictions of the righteous, says David; but the LORD delivers them from them all (19). He keeps all of his bones; and not one of them is broken -- John 19:36 (20). But, as for the wicked, evil slays them; those who hate the righteous shall be desolate (21). The LORD redeems the soul of his servants; and none who trust him shall be desolate (22).

¹ A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech [Achish]; who drove him away, and he departed. *

[Aleph]. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

² [Beth]. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

³ [Gimel]. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

⁴ [Daleth]. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

⁵ [He]. [Vau]. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not [Vau] ashamed.

⁶ [Zain]. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

⁷ [Cheth]. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

⁸ [Teth]. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

⁹ [Jod]. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

¹⁰ [Caph]. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

¹¹ [Lamed]. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

¹² [Mem]. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

¹³ [Nun]. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

¹⁴ [Samech]. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

¹⁵ [Ain]. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

¹⁶ [Pe]. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

¹⁷ [Tsade]. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

¹⁸ [Koph]. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

¹⁹ [Resch]. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

²⁰ [Schin]. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

²¹ [Tau]. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

²² [Pe]. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]