[Psalms 34:1] I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES: HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH.
David was with the Almighty in his heart all the time. Most of us very seldom reach this level but on the very rare brief periods when we may have done so we have often experienced miracle-like events and felt the direct intervention of Divine Providence. This applies to everybody. There is no favoritism before the Almighty. All those who bring themselves close to God experience HIS blessing. It is not difficult and it brings great blessings. Nevertheless very few of us achieve it.

[Psalms 34:2] MY SOUL SHALL MAKE HER BOAST IN THE LORD: THE HUMBLE SHALL HEAR THEREOF, AND BE GLAD.
"THE HUMBLE": Humility enables a person to retain his natural instincts. Pride often entails self-consciousness and interferes with our ability to act as well as we can naturally do so. This was the secret of Moses: "NOW THE MAN MOSES WAS VERY MEEK, ABOVE ALL THE MEN WHICH WERE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH."[Numbers 12:3].
The word translated here as MEEK" is "anav" the same as that translated as "HUMBLE" in Psalm 34:2 and "humble" is indeed the more correct rendering. Rabbi S.R. Hirsch points out that the word for "humble" (anav) is from the same root as "ani" meaning a poor person. Whereas a poor person is dependent upon others for his existence a truly humble person recognizes his dependence upon the Almighty. Most of us may well never reach this level but at least we can recognize it from a distance.

[Psalms 34:3] O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME, AND LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER.

[Psalms 34:4] I SOUGHT THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS.
David was afraid. It is not a fault to fear. Fear is a natural instinct given to us to help us protect ourselves from harm. God will deliver us from the cause of harm. David trusted in God but he employed trickery to save himself. It was the Almighty who inspired David to pretend to be insane and thus get himself out of the path of danger. We must do what we can and ask God to show us the way. Similarly, Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), who led the Parliamentary Forces in the English Civil War is quoted as saying, "Praise the LORD and pass the ammunition".

[Psalms 34:5] THEY LOOKED UNTO HIM, AND WERE LIGHTENED: AND THEIR FACES WERE NOT ASHAMED.

[Psalms 34:6] THIS POOR MAN CRIED, AND THE LORD HEARD HIM, AND SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES. "POOR MAN": David was in trouble for a good portion of his life, wandering around, fleeing from danger, dependent upon the self-sacrifice and compassion of others for his daily food and upkeep and that of his dependents who had entrusted themselves to him.

[Psalms 34:7] THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPETH ROUND ABOUT THEM THAT FEAR HIM, AND DELIVERETH THEM. "THE ANGEL": In Hebrew "Malack" meaning literally "Messenger" but usually (though not always) referring to a Divine Emissary i.e. an angel in English. Iben Ezra (1080-1164 CE) points out that in Hebrew this expression in the singular can also apply to the whole family categorized by the name, i.e. it can mean in this case many angels encamped around.

[Psalms 34:8] O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD: BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN HIM. "MAN": In Hebrew "gever" connoting "he-man". Someone who trusts in the Almighty is actually enabled to assert himself by doing the right thing and not letting circumstance or associates lead him in directions he would not really want to go.

[Psalms 34:9] O FEAR THE LORD, YE HIS SAINTS: FOR THERE IS NO WANT TO THEM THAT FEAR HIM.
" SAINTS": In Hebrew "Kedoshim" the plural of "Kadosh". The Radak says that this expression refers to someone who denies himself and does not indulge in that which is forbidden or harmful. People on diets often experience an ongoing feeling of exhilaration and even spiritual enlightenment. This however can be dangerous. I once had a friend who contracted anorexia and almost literally starved himself to death. Towards the end, he had been hospitalized but it did not help. [Concerning "diets" I am speaking mostly from hearsay since I have seldom managed to keep one]. "Kadosh" also connotes dedication as S.R. Hirsch points out, i.e. those who dedicate themselves to the Almighty.

[Psalms 34:10] THE YOUNG LIONS DO LACK, AND SUFFER HUNGER: BUT THEY THAT SEEK THE LORD SHALL NOT WANT ANY GOOD THING.
" THE YOUNG LIONS": Those who are over duly self-confident and go their own way even though they may well be blessed with inherent advantages often fail and suffer.

[Psalms 34:11] COME, YE CHILDREN, HEARKEN UNTO ME: I WILL TEACH YOU THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
The Fear of Heaven needs to be learned and labored in. It does not necessarily come automatically with an abstract wish to possess it.

[Psalms 34:12] WHAT MAN IS HE THAT DESIRETH LIFE, AND LOVETH MANY DAYS, THAT HE MAY SEE GOOD?
"DESIRETH LIFE": In Hebrew "Chofetz Chaim". This was the title of a famous book that explored the evils of speaking about others and how to avoid these evils, what can be said, and what not, and when, etc. The author (Rabbi Yisroel Meir HaKohen, 1838-1933, of Radin, Poland) is often referred to by the title of his work, The "Chofetz Chaim".

[Psalms 34:13] KEEP THY TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND THY LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE.
This is a very important verse and one that is often quoted. Do not say bad things. Do not say things that are not so or that are intended to mislead others.

[Psalms 34:14] DEPART FROM EVIL, AND DO GOOD; SEEK PEACE, AND PURSUE IT.
Often in order to get out of bad habits and/or harmful situations the best solution is to actively seek a positive path and this will enable us to get away from the bad one.

[Psalms 34:15] THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR CRY.
We need the help of the Almighty for everything and should realize it. God will help us if we call upon Him. Not everyone merits to pray and even those who do may not always do so. When we do pray we therefore should exert ourselves to intend well.

[Psalms 34:16] THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THEM THAT DO EVIL, TO CUT OFF THE REMEMBRANCE OF THEM FROM THE EARTH.

[Psalms 34:17] THE RIGHTEOUS CRY, AND THE LORD HEARETH, AND DELIVERETH THEM OUT OF ALL THEIR TROUBLES.

[Psalms 34:18] THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART; AND SAVETH SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.
Even if we have not gone in the right path as soon as we turn back, for whatever reason, God is prepared to hear and help us.

[Psalms 34:19] MANY ARE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS: BUT THE LORD DELIVERETH HIM OUT OF THEM ALL.
Just because one tries to be good does not mean that everything will go as it should. Nevertheless those who do the best they can and believe in the Almighty will come through successfully.

[Psalms 34:20] HE KEEPETH ALL HIS BONES: NOT ONE OF THEM IS BROKEN.

[Psalms 34:21] EVIL SHALL SLAY THE WICKED: AND THEY THAT HATE THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE DESOLATE.

[Psalms 34:22] THE LORD REDEEMETH THE SOUL OF HIS SERVANTS: AND NONE OF THEM THAT TRUST IN HIM SHALL BE DESOLATE.
God will be with us always.


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