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Psalms 34

22 verses

TL;DR

The psalm is a jubilant testimony of God’s deliverance and a call to trust, praise, and righteous living.

Summary

The psalmist opens with a personal vow to bless and praise God continually, noting how humility and faith bring joy. He recounts God’s response to his pleas, delivering him from fear and sorrow, and extends this deliverance to the poor and the righteous. An angelic presence is invoked as a protective force for those who fear God. The psalm exhorts listeners to taste the goodness of God, to fear Him, and to live righteously by avoiding evil and seeking peace. It highlights God’s attentive ears and eyes toward the righteous, promising that their cries are heard and that He preserves them. Contrition and broken hearts receive special attention, with God declared near to the contrite. The psalm concludes by affirming that God keeps the bones of His people intact and that He redeems the souls of those who trust in Him.

Outline
  1. A personal vow of praise and its blessings
  2. God’s rescue and protection for the humble and the poor
  3. Exhortations to trust, fear, and live righteously
Themes
Trust in GodDeliverance and protectionRighteous living and fear of the Lord
Keywords
blessdeliverfearrighteouscontriteangeltrustpraisegoodnesssoullife
People
the LORDthe Angel of the LORDthe righteous
Places
Things
fear of the LORDdeliverancecontrite heartrighteousnesstrustpraisegoodness of God
Key Verses
  • Psalms 34:8: Invites believers to experience God’s goodness directly
  • Psalms 34:18: Emphasizes God’s compassion toward the brokenhearted
  • Psalms 34:22: Affirms God’s redemption and the security of the faithful
Questions
  • How does the psalm weave personal experience with universal exhortation?
  • In what ways does the imagery of the angel and the righteous reinforce the psalm’s message of protection?
  • What does ‘taste and see’ suggest about the experiential nature of faith?
  • How might the theme of contrition apply to contemporary believers?
  • Why is the motif of the ‘young lion’ used in the context of deliverance?
  • What practical steps does the psalm suggest for living a life of righteous fear?
  • How does the psalm’s portrayal of God’s attentiveness influence its readers’ sense of security?
Sentiment

positive
The psalm conveys hope, assurance, and a celebratory tone of divine protection and favor.