Heb. They cry, to wit, the righteous, as is manifest both from the nature of the thing, and from Psalms 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. read more
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, Psalms 10:1. Such as be of a contrite spirit; by which he understands either, 1. Those whose spirits are oppressed, and even broken, with the greatness of their calamities. But this may be, and frequently is, the lot of wicked men. And therefore in this sense, and to such persons, this proposition and promise is not true. Or... read more
INTRODUCTION“This psalm is assigned by the superscription to the occasion when David, persecuted by Saul, fled to the Philistines, and being brought before Achish was driven away by him as a madman (1 Samuel 21:12, see Psalms 7:0). There is no sufficient reason for rejecting the historical validity of this statement. The psalms generally rise above the level of the particular occasion, and dwell on general principles, and so it is here. This psalm is eucharistic and didactic. It is full of... read more
Psalms 34:18 One idea is embodied in these two sentences. According to a very common construction in the book of Psalms and in the book of Proverbs, and in other books of Holy Scripture, the latter sentence simply repeats the declaration of the former, in order to increase the emphasis and the force, for the "broken heart" is the same as the "contrite spirit," and the Lord being "nigh" is the same as the Lord "saveth." I. Consider the broken heart and contrite spirit. The heart before us may be... read more
DISCOURSE: 554THE BROKEN AND CONTRITE IN HEART ENCOURAGEDPsalms 34:18. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.THE objects of God’s favour are very frequently designated by the exalted title of “The righteous:” “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous:” “Many are the afflictions of the righteous:” “They that hate the righteous shall be desolate [Note: ver. 34:19, 21.].” But, a person of an humble spirit finds it difficult to assume... read more
Psalms 34:1-22 Psalms 34:1-22 is a psalm of David when he, it says, "changed his behavior, before Abimelech." Actually, it is probably the case of when he had gone down and Abimelech or Achish the king who drove him away and departed. Now David, when he was fleeing from Saul, Saul was trying to kill him, he fled into the land of the Philistines and he was brought to the Philistine king, Achish. And suddenly David thought, "Hey, here I am, and the Philistines hate me," because he had killed... read more
Psalms 34:6 . This poor man cried. David, a prince yesterday, was poor to-day; an exile among his enemies, and destitute of friends. Yesterday, Saul sought his life, and now the friends of Goliath ask for his blood. This may represent a sinner pursued by death, or the sword. While among the Philistines, the men of the world, they take counsel to destroy him. He has no friend, no deliverer but the Lord. Faith and prayer are his only resources, and the Lord who saved David from the hands of... read more
Psalms 34:1-22I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.A devout hymnI. an exemplification of true praise.1. It is thorough.(1) There is no praise without concentration of soul.(2) Distracting forces are rife.2. It is constant.(1) In every department of action--intellectual, artistic, commercial, political.(2) In every circumstance of life--sorrow, joy, adversity, prosperity, bereavement, friendship.3. It is exultant. God is the sum total of all excellence,... read more
Psalms 34:18The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken ,heart: and sayeth such as be of a contrite spirit. The broken heart and its Divine RestorerThe Lord is nigh. Now to be nigh to one object is to be more or less distant from others. So is it with men, and human language is employed to represent what is here told us of God. He cannot really be far from any heart. But, in a very deep sense, He is nigh the broken heart--to help, to comfort, to save.I. Look at the broken heart and contrite... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:1-22
XXXIV. Yahweh’ s Care for His Own.— An acrostic Ps., the letter Waw being omitted as in Psalms 25. Yahweh’ s care of the poor who fear Him. Psalms 34:5. Read with LXX, “ look to him,” “ be radiant,” “ your faces.” Psalms 34:7 . “ The angel,” i.e. the angel who represented Yahweh ( cf. Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 63:9).The acrostic is complete with Psalms 34:21; Psalms 34:22 is an addition for liturgical use ( cf. Psalms 25:22 *). read more