Psalm 34:7-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:1-22

Life's experiences turned to manifold uses. £ There is no sufficient reason for severing this psalm from the detail of history to which its title refers; and it is much to be wished that its writer had uniformly turned his own experience to a use as wise as that which he here urges upon others. £ But David's pen might be golden, though sometimes his spirit was leaden; and we may study with great advantage the ideal of life which he sets before us, learning from his experience how we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:7

The angel of the Lord eneampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them . According to some commentators (Rosenmuller, 'Four Friends,' and others), the expression, "angel of the Lord," is here used as a collective, and means the angels generally. With this certainly agrees the statement that the angel "encampeth round about them that fear him;" and the illustration from 2 Kings 6:14-18 is thus exactly apposite. But others deny that "the angel of the Lord" has ever a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:8

O taste and see that the Lord is good; i.e. put the matter to the test of experience. There is no other way of really knowing how good God is. Blessed is the man that trusteth in him (comp. Psalms 2:12 ; Psalms 84:12 ; Proverbs 16:20 ; Isaiah 30:18 ; Jeremiah 17:7 ). Trust in God is a feeling which is blessed in itself. God also showers blessings on such as trust in him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:8

The test of experience. "Oh, taste and seer" The glory of our age is its experimental science . The method of the old philosophers, against which Lord Bacon wrote, was to assume certain principles as true, and reason down to the facts. The new method, to which all the victories of modern science are due, is to reason back from facts to principles; first carefully observing, then testing your conclusions; first learning by experience, then verifying by experience. This method, which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:8-10

Proving what is good. There are two things in this exhortation. I. A CALL TO MAKE TRIAL OF RELIGION . The spirit of religion is, "The Lord is good." But how are we to know this? Not by hearing, or inquiring, or believing on the word of others, but by making trial for ourselves. This is in accordance with reason and practical experience. Experience is found on experiment. The knowledge thus acquired can be safely acted upon. So it is in human life. It is the friend we have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:9

O fear the Lord, ye his saints . Fear of God, a reverent and godly fear, will always accompany trust in God, such as God approves. The saints of God both love and fear him (comp. Psalms 31:23 ). There is no want to them that fear 'him since God supplies all their wants. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:9

The fear of God. "O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him." The fear of God described the whole of practical religion. There are various kinds and degrees of fear caused by our relation to God, combined in various proportions with other sentiments, tie is the great and powerful, and we are the weak; and we are naturally ignorant of his nature; and till we know whether he is a malignant or a benevolent being, we naturally dread him. The fear which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:10

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger . Some suppose the "young lions" here to represent the proud and violent, as in Job 4:10 . But it is simpler to take the present passage literally. In God's animal creation even the strongest suffer want for a time, and have no remedy; his human creatures need never be in want, since they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing . It is open to them to "seek the Lord" at any time. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:11

Come, ye children, hearken unto me (comp. Proverbs 4:1 ; Proverbs 8:32 ; 1 John 2:1 , 1 John 2:18 ; 1 John 3:18 ; 1 John 4:4 , etc.). I will teach you the fear of the Lord; i.e. I will teach you the nature of true religion. Note the absence from what follows of any merely legal requirements, and the simple insist-ance on right moral conduct ( Psalms 34:13 , Psalms 34:14 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:11-22

The second, didactic, part of the psalm here begins. The writer assumes the role of the teacher, and, addressing his readers as "sons," undertakes to "teach them the fear of the Lord" ( Psalms 34:11 ), or, in other words, to point out to them in what true religion consists. This he does in two remarkable verses ( Psalms 34:13 , Psalms 34:14 ); after which he proceeds, in the remainder of the psalm, to give reasons which may incline them to the practice of it ( Psalms 34:15-22 ). The... read more

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