Psa 34:9-22 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 9. There is no want to them that fear him. ] He who truly fears God loves him; and he who loves God obeys him, and to him who fears, loves , and obeys God, there can be no want of things essential to his happiness, whether spiritual or temporal, for this life or for that which is to come. This verse is wanting in the Syriac .

‏ Psalms 34:9-22

Verse 9. There is no want to them that fear him.] He who truly fears God loves him; and he who loves God obeys him, and to him who fears, loves, and obeys God, there can be no want of things essential to his happiness, whether spiritual or temporal, for this life or for that which is to come. This verse is wanting in the Syriac.

Verse 10. The young lions do lack] Instead of kephirim, the young lions, one of Kennicott's MSS. has cabbirim, "powerful men." The Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic, Syriac, Arabic, and Anglo-Saxon have the same reading. Houbigant approves of this; and indeed the sense and connection seem to require it. My old Psalter reads:-The Ryche had nede; and thai hungerd: but sekand Lard sal noght be lessed of alle gode. That es, says the paraphrase, with outen lessyng thai sal have God; that es alle gode; for in God is al gode.

Verse 11. Come, ye children] All ye that are of an humble, teachable spirit.

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.] I shall introduce the translation and paraphrase from my old Psalter; and the rather because I believe there is a reference to that very improper and unholy method of teaching youth the system of heathen mythology before they are taught one sound lesson of true divinity, till at last their minds are imbued with heathenism, and the vicious conduct of gods, goddesses, and heroes, here very properly called tyrants, becomes the model of their own; and they are as heathenish without as they are heathenish within.

Trans. Cummes sones heres me: bred of Lard I sal gou lere.

Par. Cummes with trauth and luf: sones, qwam I gette in haly lere: heres me. With eres of hert. I sal lere you, noght the fabyls of poetes; na the storys of tyrauntz; bot the dred of oure Larde, that wyl bryng thou til the felaghschippe of aungels; and thar in is lyfe." I need not paraphrase this paraphrase, as it is plain enough.

Verse 12. What man is he that desireth life] He who wishes to live long and to live happily, let him act according to the following directions. For a comment upon this and the four ensuing verses, see the notes on 1Pe 3:10-12.

Verse 17. The righteous cry] There is no word in the present Hebrew text for righteous; but all the versions preserve it. I suppose it was lost through its similitude to the word tsaaku, they cry tsaaku tsaddikim, the righteous cry.

Verse 18. A broken heart] nishberey leb, the heart broken to shivers.

A contrite spirit.] dakkeey ruach, "the beaten-out spirit." In both words the hammer is necessarily implied; in breaking to pieces the ore first, and then plating out the metal when it has been separated from the ore. This will call to the reader's remembrance Jer 23:29: "Is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord? And like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" The breaking to shivers, and beating out, are metaphorical expressions: so are the hammer and the rock. What the large hammer struck on a rock by a powerful hand would do, so does the word of the Lord when struck on the sinner's heart by the power of the Holy Spirit. The broken heart, and the contrite spirit, are two essential characteristics of true repentance.

Verse 19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous] No commander would do justice to a brave and skilful soldier, by refusing him opportunities to put his skill and bravery to proof by combating with the adversary; or by preventing him from taking the post of danger when necessity required it. The righteous are God's soldiers. He suffers them to be tried, and sometimes to enter into the hottest of the battle and in their victory the power and influence of the grace of God is shown, as well as their faithfulness.

Delivereth him out of them all.] He may well combat heartily, who knows that if he fight in the Lord, he shall necessarily be the conqueror.

Verse 20. He keepeth all his bones] He takes care of his life; and if he have scars, they are honourable ones.

Verse 21. Evil shall slay the wicked] The very thing in which they delight shall become their bane and their ruin.

They that hate the righteous] All persecutors of God's people shall be followed by the chilling blast of God's displeasure in this world; and if they repent not, shall perish everlastingly.

Verse 22. The Lord redeemeth] Both the life and soul of God's followers are ever in danger but God is continually redeeming both.

Shall be desolate.] Literally, shall be guilty. They shall be preserved from sin, and neither forfeit life nor soul. This verse probably should come in after the fifth. See the introduction to this Psalm.

ANALYSIS OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH PSALM

This Psalm is composed with great art, and this must be attended to by those who would analyze it. The scope of it is to praise God, and to instruct in his fear. Its parts are, in general, the following:-

I. He praises God himself, and calls upon others to follow his example, Ps 34:1-8.

II. He assumes the office of a teacher, and instructs both young and old in the fear of the Lord, Ps 34:9-22.

1. He praises God, and expresses himself thus:-1. I will bless the Lord. 2. His praise shall be in my mouth. 3. It shall be in my mouth continually. 4. It shall be expressed by a tongue affected by the heart: "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord." 5. And so long would he continue it till others should be moved to do the like: "The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad."

2. Upon which he calls upon others to join with him: "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." And to encourage them he proposes his own example: "I sought the Lord," &c. Should it be said this was a singular mercy shown to David which others are not to expect, he in effect replies, No, a mercy it is, but it belongs to all that seek God: "They looked unto him," &c. But should not this satisfy, and should they rejoin, This poor man (David) cried, and the Lord heard him, but David was in the Divine favour; he may be supposed to reply by this general maxim: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him;" and be they who they may, if they fear God, this is their privilege.

II. Now he assumes the chair of the teacher; and the lessons are two:-

1. That they make a trial of God's goodness: "O taste and see that the Lord is good."

2. That they become his servants: "O fear ye the Lord, for there is no want," &c.

And this he illustrates by a comparison: "The young lions (or, the rich and the powerful) may lack and suffer hunger," but they that seek the Lord shall not.

These promises and blessings belong only to them that fear the Lord and lest some should imagine they had this fear, and were entitled to the promise, he shows them what this fear is.

Ale calls an assembly, and thus addresses them: "Come, ye children, and hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord." That fear of the Lord which, if a man be desirous of life, and to see many days, shall satisfy him; and if he be ambitious to see good, the peace of a quiet soul and a good conscience shall lodge with him.

1. Let him be sure to take care of his tongue: "keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile."

2. Let him act according to justice: "Depart from evil."

3. Let him be charitable, ready to do good works: "Do good."

4. Let him be peaceable; "Seek peace, and pursue it."

These are the characteristics of those who fear the Lord, and seek him; and they shall want no manner of thing that is good.

It may be objected: The righteous are exposed to afflictions, &c., and ungodly men have power and prosperity; to which it may be answered: Afflictions do not make the godly miserable, nor does prosperity make the wicked happy. 1. As to the righteous, they are always objects of God's merciful regards: "For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers." But, 2. "The face of the Lord is against those who do evil," &c.

These points he illustrates:-

1. The righteous cries, and the Lord heareth him, and delivereth him out of all his troubles; either, 1. By taking them from him or, 2. By taking him from them.

2. "The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart," &c. Thus he comforts, confirms and strengthens.

3. Although the afflictions of the righteous are many, yet the Lord delivers him out of them all; makes him patient, constant, cheerful in all, superior to all.

4. "He keeps all his bones." He permits him to suffer no essential hurt.

But as to the ungodly, it is not so with them; the very root of their perdition is their malice which they show, 1. To God; 2. To good men.

1. "Evil shall slay the wicked."

2. "And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate."

And then David concludes the Psalm with this excellent sentiment; Though God may suffer his servants to come into trouble, yet he delivers them from it. For it belongs to redemption to free one from misery; for no man can be redeemed who is under no hardship. This shall be done, says David. The "Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants, and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." The Lord redeems from trouble and affliction, as well as from sin. He knows how to deliver the godly from temptation; and he knows how to preserve them in it. But it is his servants that he redeems, not his enemies. The servant may confidently look to his master for support.