Psalm 34 Continued…
Psalm 34:6-10 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 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.
The phrase “This poor man called,” in verse 6 is David speaking of himself. He is poor now. He is alone. He is afflicted. He is persecuted and hunted. He is all of those things. There is something beautiful about his own recognition of his status. There is no pride standing in his way.
In verse 7, David writes “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him.” That phrase “angel of the Lord” is used in several places in the Old Testament (Genesis 16, Exodus 3) but it is used only three times in the Psalms and David is the one to do so each time. It is used here and in Psalm 35 in verses 5 and 6. Many scholars believe this to be an allusion to Christ’s Presence in the Old Testament.
David sets forth a challenge to all who hear his words in verse 8: Taste and see that the Lord is good. The idea is to try Him. It is almost like we wait for him to say, “I dare you.” David can issue this challenge because of his history with the Lord’s deliverance for him over and over in his life.
In early church history Psalm 34 became a specific focus for celebrating communion, largely because of verse 8. Reciting the Psalms during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper was attested during Augustine’s day. There was also another reason for using this Psalm during the Lord’s Supper and that was due to a word play from the Greek language. The Greek word for “good” (chrestos) is very similar to the Greek word for “Christ” (Christos). So, the invitation to “Taste and see that the Lord is good” was easily also heard as “Taste and see the Christ is the Lord.” Many churches today still utilize the practice of reciting Psalm 34 as part of the liturgy surrounding the Lord’s Supper.
David then tells in verse 9 that the saints need to “fear the Lord” because those who do fear God “lack nothing.” Moses reminded the Israelites in the wilderness: “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” (Deuteronomy 2:7) This is also the heart of Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” God always faithfully provides for those in right relationship to Him.
In verse 10, David says, “The lions may grow weak and hungry.” Literally, it is “young lions”. Lions are generally strong enough to get the prey they want, but even if they cannot, the Lord is strong enough and willing to supply the needs of those who “seek the Lord.”
PRAY
Father always help me to remember your great provision for me in all things.