Ps. 34 A Psalm made upon that occasion, though not at that time. His behaviour; or, his habit or posture, or his reason, as this word is taken, 1 Sam. 25:33, Ps. 119:66, Prov. 11:22. When he counterfeited madness.

I will never forget to bless God for this miraculous deliverance.

My soul shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a Lord and Master. The humble; or, the meek, i.e. the godly, oft called in Scripture by that title; and particularly my friends and favourers in Israel, whom he thus calls in opposition to his proud and furious adversaries in…

Join your praises with mine, O all ye humble ones. Together; not in place, for David was now banished from the place of God’s public worship, but in affection and work: let our souls meet, and let our praises meet in the ears of the all-hearing God. Or, alike, i.e.

They looked; the humble, Ps. 34:2; or they that fear him, Ps. 34:7, when they were in distress. Or it is an indefinite expression. Unto him; either, 1. Unto the Lord, expressed Ps. 34:4, i.e. they sought and expected help from him. Or rather, 2. Unto this poor man, as it follows, Ps.

i.e. David, of whom they that looked, &c., Ps. 34:5, spake these words.

The angel, i.e. the angels; the singular number being put for the plural, as it is Ps. 78:45, Ps. 105:33, Ps. 105:40; for it is both improper and unusual to ascribe encamping, and that round about all good men, to one created angel. And we find many angels employed in this work, Gen.

Taste, i.e. consider it seriously, and thoroughly, and affectionately; make trial of it by your own and others’ experiences. This is opposed to those slight and vanishing thoughts which men have of it. Good, i.e. merciful and gracious, to wit, to all his people.

i.e. Reverence and serve him, and trust in him; for fear is commonly put for all the parts of God’s worship.

The young lions; either, 1. Properly: see Job 4:11. Or, 2. Metaphorically so called, the great potentates of the earth, who are oft so called, as Jer. 2:15, Ezek. 38:13, Nah. 2:13.

Ye children; whom I love as mine own children, and who own me as your civil father, your prince; see 2 Kings 5:13; and as your spiritual father, a prophet; for the disciples of the prophets were called their sons, 2 Kings 2:3. The fear of the Lord, i.e.

Desireth, to wit, seriously and in good earnest, so as to be willing to use any endeavours which shall be prescribed to him: for otherwise the question were needless; for there is no man but desires it, at least coldly and faintly.

From evil; from all manner of evil-speaking, from all opprobrious, injurious, false, and deceitful speeches; which, though men commonly use to ease and gratify their own minds, or to compass their designs, do frequently fall upon their own heads, by provoking both God and men against them.

Depart from evil, i.e. from all sin, and especially from all wicked and injurious acts and practices against try neighbour. Do good; be ready to perform all good and friendly offices to all men, as thou hast opportunity.

This is added to prove his last assertion, to wit, that the practice of these duties, Ps. 34:13–14, is the true and best, and indeed the only, way to see that good proposed and promised Ps.

The face of the Lord, i.e. his anger, oft called his face, as Lev. 17:10, Lev. 20:5, Jer. 44:11, Lam. 4:16, because anger discovers itself in the face. Them that do evil, i.e.

Heb. They cry, to wit, the righteous, as is manifest both from the nature of the thing, and from Ps. 34:15, where they are so called, and with which this verse is to be continued, the 16th verse coming in by way of parenthesis, as is very usual in many places of Scripture.

Nigh; ready to hear and succour them; though by the severe course of his providence towards them he seems to themselves and others to stand afar off, as David complains, Ps. 10:1. Such as be of a contrite spirit; by which he understands either, 1.

All his bones, i.e. all the parts and members of their bodies, which are synecdochically expressed by the bones, which are the stay and strength of the rest. God will not suffer any mischief to befall him; though he may be oft afflicted, yet he shall not be destroyed.

Evil; either, 1. The evil of sin. His own wickedness, though designed against others, shall destroy himself. Or, 2. The evil of misery. When the afflictions of good men shall have a happy issue, theirs shall end in their total and final destruction.

i.e. Their lives or their persons, from the malicious designs of all their enemies, and from desolation or utter ruin, as it follows.