Psalm 34: A Psalm of Comfort

Psalm 34 is one of my favorite Psalms. It is full of encouragement and comfort. If one were good at memorization, this Psalm is one to remember and call to mind in times of trial or when one needs to be uplifted. God’s word is certainly good at uplifting the Christian.

Verses 1-8 are David praising the Lord: these verses are offered without comment, just to read and dwell upon.

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears….This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Verses 13 and 14 are very good advice: Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

We are to watch our words, think before we speak and measure what we say according to the leading of the word of God. We are not to speak deceitfully or in a cunning and manipulative way. We are to do good and avoid evil, we are to live peaceably as much as is possible.

The next verses are pure comfort to the broken-hearted who calls upon the Lord. V18-19 – The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as are of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

As in a previous post, the LORD sees the Christian as righteous through the precious blood of Christ which atoned for the sins of the believer.
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Psalm 12: The Lord and the Flatterer

This morning I have been thinking about Psalm 12. In this Psalm David is asking for God’s help from those that are flatterers. In my own life, a flatterer has caused no small amount of pain which was only overcome by saying once again, ‘Lord, this is in your hands.’. and keeping silent about the matter.

In V1-2 David is calling out to the Lord. “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.”

According to Websters 1828 dictionary, flattery is false praise; commendation bestowed for the purpose of gaining favor and influence, or to accomplish some purpose. This to me is rather like a spider drawing her prey into her web. Flattery is certainly different from a compliment which is brief and sincere.

But what does V3 say? “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.” Thank the Lord that he will take care of these things.

V5 is God’s promise for those to whom the flatterer has spoken. “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.” These are comforting words.

Finally David praises the words of the LORD in V6,7 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” At first glance this seems a different subject from the beginning of the Psalm regarding the flatterer. But it is in the reading of God’s Word that peace comes to the heart and comfort to the soul. I thank the LORD that his word has been preserved and will be preserved for ever.

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