* Biblical Hebrew, also called Classical Hebrew, is an archaic form of the Hebrew language, a language in the Canaanite branch of Semitic languages spoken by the Israelites in the area known as the Land of Israel, roughly west of the Jordan River and east of the Mediterranean Sea. The term "Hebrew" was not used for the language in the Hebrew Bible. Rather, it was referred to as the language of Canaan or Judaean in Ancient Greek and Mishnaic Hebrew texts.
The Hebrew language is attested in inscriptions from about the 10th century BC, when it was almost identical to Phoenician and other Canaanite languages, and spoken Hebrew persisted through and beyond the Second Temple period, which ended in the siege of Jerusalem (70 AD). It eventually developed into Mishnaic Hebrew, spoken until the fifth century AD.
>1. What has David decided to do? (1-2) Why might this decision be amazing considering David's entire life events? What does he ask in verse 3?
* Psalm 34:1-3 "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together."
* The psalm is a somewhat irregular alphabetic acrostic (it lacks a verse for one Hebrew letter and adds a verse at the end). Its eight stanzas develop four major theses, with two stanzas devoted to each. (NIV Study Bible and other commentaries.)
* The title (superscription) is, "Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left."
* "I will extol the LORD at all times" -Extol is defined in the verse; "His praise will always be on my lips". David decides to praise the Lord no matter what.
* "My soul will boast in the LORD" -"Soul" in Hebrew is "Nepesh" (a transliteration). The soul is the center of one's being. The soul, the spirit, and the physical, though connected are independent entities. The soul consists of, but not limited to consciousness (mind), emotions (heart), will (intent), and passion (desire).
* David was fleeing King Saul who tried to pierce him with a spear. The king wanted David dead for jealousy. The Lord God made David successful when fighting Israel's enemies. According to the people, the king was to fight battles for them and the Lord allowed this. However, Saul grew tired and fearful of fighting battles. David was not afraid and continued to fight every year. The Lord made him successful. So Saul was jealous and tried to kill David.
David fled Saul. First, he went to the priests of the Lord who provided food. Then David went to the king of Gath where he grew fearful because he was recognized as the one who fought against him. To escape, David pretended to be insane.
David was able to fool the king of Gath. He escaped to no man's land. The result was this psalm of praise. Though afflicted, homeless, and saught by the king of Israel David extolled the Lord. He wrote, "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together." No human reason exists to explain why singing boasts and praises to the Lord when life is completely miserable to feel joy. Yet I have experienced this. Join David in praising the Lord.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 34:1-3.
>2. What happened that David made the declaration to extol the LORD at all times? (4, 6) Was David ever without fear and troubles? (4, 6) What he afraid? (7) Of what was he afraid? What does he say happens in the lives of those who fear him? (7) What does this mean?
* Psalm 34:4 "I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
* Psalm 34:6 "This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles."
* Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
* "I sought... this poor man called" -meaning in prayer.
* "fears... troubles" -David did not live an easy problem free life all the time. Though anointed as king as a young lad and considered a man after God's heart, David experienced fear and trouble at times. Not all was pleasant and happy times.
* "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him" -The angel is depicted like an army or a wall of protection.
* David experienced fear to the core of his soul. Fear was born when King Saul threw a spear at him. Fear grew into adolescence when he had nowhere to lay his head and nothing to eat. Fear reached adulthood when he was recognized as Gath's enemy at the gate of Israel's enemy. Though fear threatened to force him into submission it did not live eternally.
David sought the LORD and he answered him. Fear ceased to exist. The LORD delivered him from all his fears. When fear grew in his heart a shadow on his face appeared. When the Lord's presence entered his soul, radiance replaced the shadow on his countenance. Those who look to the Lord are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. The Lord Jesus answered the prayers of the distressed.
Saul's pursuit did not cease. However, Saul could not find nor harm David for the angel of the LORD encamped around David who feared the Lord Jesus. David was delivered. Those who trust and fear the Lord more than the things of this world experience the loving deliverance of the Lord.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 34:4-7.
>3. What does it mean to be radiant when one looks to the Lord? (5) Is the radiance confined to metaphysics? (Genesis 3:4-6; John 1:4-5, 9, 8:12)
* Psalm 34:5 "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."
* Genesis 3:6-8 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden."
* John 1:4-5 "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
* John 1:9 "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world."
* John 8:12 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
* "radiant" -"Radiant" in Hebrew is "nahar" (a transliteration) meaning to flow and to sparkle.
* "covered with shame" -Adam and Eve sinned, were ashamed, and covered themselves because they knew they were naked. Naked there does not mean without clothes. Rather it means that they lost radiance.
II. Fear the LORD (34:8-14)
* The image titled, "God Speaks to Israel at Mount Sinai" is from "The Bible and its Story" book, authored by Charles Horne, 1909. It is now in public domain.
>4. What does it mean to taste the Lord? (8) How might this be what Jesus meant in John 6:53-59 and 61-63?
* Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
* John 6:53-59 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
* John 6:61-63 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life."
* "Taste and see" -"Taste" in the original Hebrew is the verb "taam", a primitive root also meaning "perceive". "See" in the original Hebrew in the verb "raa", a primitive root can be both literal or figurative.
* A different food is on a menu newly introduced to me. Others say that it is a delight to experience. "Taste and see that it is good, it is very good." I do not know because I have never tried it. "Can these reviews be true? I have been disappointed before," I say to myself. "Remember that super-delight, 'guaranteed to please'. I suffered for what seemed like a lifetime."
Reading the menu I see the fare has some of my favorite ingredients and others I had never heard of before. "You will be blessed by the experience," the waiter invites. Hunger drives me. I am famished. No nutrition was found in the previous provisions.
"What if I do not like it?"
"You will not be disappointed. The delectable provision uniquely suits everyone's needs, desires, and hopes. Taste and see that it is good. A blessing to the famished."
Intrigued I tell the waiter I would like a taste of the fare. An old dish with an ancient recipe aboard is placed before me. The appearance is tantalizing. The smells are eye brightest. It says to me, "I am the bread of life. He who partakes of me will never be hungry. He who drinks will never go thirsty."
That is why I have become a waiter for the bread of life. Now I say to you, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. For I have and I testify that these words are true. The Lord Jesus is good."
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 34:8.
>How might fear of the LORD go along with figuratively tasting and seeing him? (9) What might "lack nothing", "grow weak and hungry", and "lack nothing" help understand the meaning of the author? (9-10)
* Psalm 34:9-10 "Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."
* "those who fear him lack nothing."
* "lions" -Considering verse 8 the lions are the evil. They hunt the man who takes refuge in the Lord as David was hunted by Saul.
* "lack nothing" -Considering 8-10 this is in the human spirit, heart, and soul.
* "grow weak and hungry" -Those without a relationship with the Lord inside our being we may take anything else and only grow weaker.
>5. Considering verses 8-10 what does a person need to know? (11)
* Psalm 34:11 "Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD."
* "my children" -Speaking as a wise teacher. "Children" could be anyone as the original Hebrew, "ben" means any offspring, physical and/or spiritual.
* "fear the LORD" -Verses 8 thru 14 are two stanzas. The center point is verse 11. Hebrew authors often centered key lines.
* The pattern of imperatives are "taste (8), "fear" (9), "come" (11), "keep" (13), and "turn" (14).
* A symmetrical development of the theme "good" dominates the stanza: Because the Lord is good (8), those who trust in him will lack nothing good (10); but in order to experience good days (12), they must shun evil and do good (14). (NIV Study Bible)
>How is those named as "children" further defined in verse 12? What are they instructed to do? (13-14)
* Psalm 34:12-14 "Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
1) "keep... from speaking lies"
2) "Turn from evil and do good"
3) "seek peace and pursue it."
* David was in a time in his life when he lived hand to mouth. When he fearfully fleed King Saul's household he had nothing except the clothes on his back. Serving the King was his livelihood. Now he did not know where his next meal was coming from nor where he would lay his head at night. Still, living on the boundary of need he claims he received every good thing needed. "...those who fear the Lord... those who seek the Lord lack no good thing," he proclaims to all the saints.
Using the words of a sage he continues, "Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD." I once heard a Bible teacher with a seminary degree ask a group of Christian men, "Someone tell me what fear of the Lord means. Seriously, I do not know nor understand what this is."
David answers him, "Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
Jesus taught, "...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27) Jesus' peace is inner contentment, serenity, and peace of mind and heart that comes from the Holy Spirit.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 34:9-14.
>How can a person seek peace and pursue it?
* Psalm 34:14 "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
* "seek peace and pursue it."
* David, the author of the Psalm speaks as one among the wise while living with life amiss. "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." His wisdom is spoken by other prophets. Reading some of the verses concentrates the meditation of the soul.
James 3:17-18 "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
Hebrews 12:14-15 "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other."
2 Corinthians 13:11 "...Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."
Speaking about how to respond if married to an unbeliever Apostle Paul wrote, "But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace." (1 Corinthians 7:15)
Apostle Paul also instructs the church, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." And this is what David was doing when King Saul tried to kill him. This is what David was living when the King of Gath turned him away.
In doing so, David was a Son of God for Jesus promised, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (Matthew 5:9-13)
Who should I pray for that is doing me harm and trying to destroy me, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do?"
III. The Righteous Cry Out to the LORD (34:15-22)
* The image titled, "The Cursing of Cain" is from "The Bible and its Story" book, authored by Charles Horne, 1909. It is now in public domain.
>6. What opposing interface does the Lord have with the righteous verses those who do evil? Why? What is his purpose?
* Psalm 34:15-16 "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth."
* "The eyes of the LORD"
* "his ears are attentive to their cry"
* "the face of the LORD is against those who do evil"
* "to cut off the memory of them from the earth."
>What truth is revealed in verses 17-18? How did David know this?
* Psalm 34:17-18 "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
* "The righteous cry out... all their troubles... the brokenhearted... crushed in spirit" -This helps us understand earlier points of the psalm, especially the "taste and see" theme.
* "Where are you God?" can be the cry of the righteous brokenhearted and crushed in spirit. For the righteous also cry out and the Lord hears them. The Apostles experience the same as David. They were pursued and sought after by people wanting them dead and gone, usually for personal gain.
King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. (Acts 12:1-4) The eyes of the LORD were on the apostles. James went to be with the Lord and Peter escaped.
Before this Stephen was stoned to death and a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem. Jesus said that those who believed in him would be persecuted. And the apostles and disciples were just as David and the prophets before them.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. The righteous cries out and the Lord hears them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. When persecuted pray and rejoice for the way of the cross leads home.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 34:15-18.
>7. What is promised to the righteous having many troubles? (19-20) How was verse 20 fulfilled when Jesus was crucified?
* Psalm 34:19-20 "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken."
* John 19:33-37 "But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
* Numbers 9:12 "They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations."
* Exodus 12:46-47 "It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. The whole community of Israel must celebrate it."
* Verse 20, "he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken," is fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross for the world's sins. (John 19:36) Jesus died at the end of Friday. According to the Hebrew calendar, the day ended and started at sunset. The Jews did not want the bodies of the dead to be hanging on the cross on the Sabbath, especially since it was a special Sabbath called the Day of Preparation. (John 19:31)
To hasten death the legs of the crucified were broken because to breathe the crucified needed to push their body up. When they came to Jesus the soldiers found that Jesus was already dead. So they didn't break his leg bones. Hence, this scripture along with Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 foretold that the Messiah's legs would not be broken. Every detail of Jesus' life and death was planned out beforehand.
Jesus was crucified. I am redeemed. I will not be condemned. Jesus told his servants that we also would have trouble because of him. He said, "Take heart I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Because he endured the cross with its suffering and shame and then three days later rose from the dead, I know that I will rise from the dead as he did. The Lord will deliver me from my troubles.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 34:19-22.
>8. What is the end of the wicked and the righteous? (21)
* Psalm 34:21 "Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned."
* "Evil will slay the wicked"
* "the foes of the righteous will be condemned."
>9. What did David experience and tell others? (22)
* Psalm 34:22 "The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."
* "The LORD redeems his servants"
* "no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."
