Psalm 34:1-3 A Psalm of David, when he changed his
behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my
mouth. (2) My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble
shall hear thereof, and be glad. (3) O magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together."
This Psalm was written when David fled from Saul into the land of the
Philistines. Because some of the people recognized David, he pretended to be a
mad man and was able to flee once again. David was in a place that we would
call "no man's land." He had to flee from Saul and now he had
to flee from the king of Gath (the land of Goliath's descent). It would have
been very easy for David to give himself a pity party at the moment, but he
refused to do so. It was in these circumstances that David made the
declarations of this 34th Psalm. "I WILL (emphasis mine) bless the Lord at
all times." We can sometimes try to blame our situations for our actions, but
this was a choice that David made. He was saying, "I refuse to allow my
emotions to be controlled by neither Saul's actions, nor Abimelech's actions,
nor my own actions. No matter what is happening in my life, I refuse to allow
those things to rob my soul of the blessings of praise and worship and honor
given to my Lord.
There were people who had lifted David upon a pedestal. Even the people in Gath
had heard of the song that had been sung about David, "... saying, Saul
hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?" It would have been
easy for the human mind to take those accolades and try to lift up the heart in
pride, but David refused to allow ANY emotion to overtake him. "My soul
shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be
glad." Again, this was a choice that David made. I refuse to allow myself
to be swallowed in pride, envy, or anger. Rather, I will consciously make my
boast in the work of the Lord. As he would write in a later Psalm, "It is
he that hath made me, and not myself." (Psalm 100) I can only speak for
myself, but I would rather be in the presence of someone who attributes all
goodness unto the Lord rather than try to take credit for anything. As I read
these words of David, I hear him giving encouragement: "O magnify the LORD
with me, and let us exalt his name together." Will you join with me in
giving praise and honor unto the Lord?
1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
Isaac Watts, Author