HOW TO REVERENCE THE LORD.
Psalm 34:11-22.
PSALM 34:11. David addresses his hearers as “children” - like disciples receiving instruction at the feet of their Rabbi.
The Scottish metrical version reads:
“O children, hither do ye come,
And unto me give ear;
I will you teach to understand
how ye the Lord should fear.”
The Psalmist elaborates on what it means to “fear the LORD.”
PSALM 34:12. This anticipates the wisdom teachings of Solomon. The “come” of PSALM 34:11 is extended to a ‘whosoever’ in PSALM 34:12 and in Proverbs 9:4-6. The offer of life in PSALM 34:12 is echoed in Proverbs 9:11.
The offer is, ‘do good if you wish to receive good’ - not unlike Jesus’ Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ (cf. Matthew 7:12). For Christians this is not so much ‘do good in order to be good’ - the ‘this do and live’ of salvation by works - but ‘do good because you are good.’ Righteousness is ‘by grace through faith’ - but we are saved ‘unto’ good works (cf. Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 2:10).
Having received the gift of grace, we are summoned throughout Scripture to live the life, and do the deeds of the righteous - and where we are able, to right the wrongs that we come up against in the world (cf. Micah 6:8; James 1:27).
PSALM 34:13. David began this Psalm with God’s praises in his mouth (cf. Psalm 34:1). Having shared his testimony, he then invited his congregation to ‘taste’ the goodness of the LORD (cf. Psalm 34:8). Now he opens the ethical part of his Psalm with an exhortation to guard our tongues from evil (cf. James 3:5; James 3:10).
PSALM 34:14. We are to ‘overcome evil with good’ (cf. Romans 12:21). As recipients of ‘peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (cf. Romans 5:1), we are to actively seek peace: and to make every effort to live in peace with all men (cf. Hebrews 12:14). This is in fulfilment of our blessedness, and is an ongoing duty of our role as the ‘children of God’ (cf. Matthew 5:9).
PSALM 34:15-22 is part of the outworking of the good life of PSALM 34:12 (cf. 1 Peter 3:10-12). The dichotomy between the ‘righteous’ and the ‘wicked’ relates to choices that have already been made within the visible community of God’s people (cf. Joshua 24:14-15). David could afford the luxury of calling his followers ‘humble’ (cf. Psalm 34:2), ‘saints’ (cf. Psalm 34:9), “children” (PSALM 34:11), and “righteous” (PSALM 34:15).
There are several anthropomorphisms of covenant relationship in this section.
PSALM 34:15. The “eyes” of the LORD are upon the righteous.
His “ears” are open to their cry. The testimony of Psalm 34 informs us that the LORD does hear the cry of the righteous (cf. Psalm 34:4; Psalm 34:6; PSALM 34:15; PSALM 34:17).
PSALM 34:16. The “face” of the LORD is against those that do evil, and cuts off their remembrance. This speaks of exclusion from the community (excommunication), exile and - ultimately - death.
When we are in the midst of trials and tribulations we often imagine that the LORD has given up on us. We cannot ‘feel’ the presence of God, nor can we make sense of our afflictions, so we presume that He has deserted us: but He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (cf. Hebrews 13:5). It is only in retrospect that we discover that He has been there all along.
There are also several verbs of deliverance in this section.
PSALM 34:17. The LORD “rescues” the righteous out of all their troubles.
PSALM 34:18. He “saves” such as be of a contrite spirit.
In our very sense of brokenness and dereliction, He is “nigh” - nearer than ever before - carrying us over the difficult bits of the sandy terrain. His saving work continues even in the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ (Psalm 23:4) - and of doubt.
PSALM 34:19. The Bible never denies that the righteous do suffer. Yet the LORD “rescues” them out of all their afflictions.
PSALM 34:20. He “keeps” all their bones. Not a bone of the Passover lamb was to be broken (cf. Exodus 12:46). This prefigured the crucifixion of Jesus (cf. John 19:33-36).
The resolution of the dichotomy between the righteous and the wicked is that each will reap just what they sow (cf. Galatians 6:7-8).
PSALM 34:21. Evil itself shall slay those who persist in their wicked ways. Those who hate the righteous shall be desolate.
PSALM 34:22. The LORD “redeems” the soul of His servants. This echoes the positive assertion of PSALM 34:20. The idea of rescue echoes the beatitude of Psalm 34:8.
There is ‘no condemnation’ to those who are in Christ Jesus - redeemed by the blood of the Lamb – ‘walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit’ (cf. Romans 8:1).
