Psalm 34:4–14

Bible Studies for Life
Assistant Professor of Religion, Samford University

God’s Promise of Provision

Psalm 34:4–14

In his book, “The Message of the Psalms,” the great Psalms scholar, Walter Brueggemann, suggests the vast majority of the psalms can be divided into three categories: psalms of orientation, disorientation and new orientation. These three psalm categories match three very different seasons of life.

In times of orientation the world seems to work as it should. Those who work hard and live godly lives thrive. Parents live to a ripe old age and see their children and grandchildren follow in their footsteps of faith. Peace and blessing are the watchwords of the day. The psalms that emerge from these moments rightly proclaim the orderliness and goodness of God and His creation (Pss. 8, 19, 104). They take confidence in the blessings that come to those who follow God’s Word (Pss. 1, 15, 119).

In times of disorientation this orderliness of life has fallen apart. Instead of peace there is conflict. The lives of the righteous are cut short. Feelings of abandonment and loss replace those of confidence and trust. The psalms that are born out of these disoriented moments are less buoyant than their orientation counterparts. These psalms lament over sin (Pss. 6, 51), sickness (Pss. 42–43), defeat (Ps. 44) and especially over God’s prolonged and heart-wrenching absence (Pss. 13, 74, 79).

In times of new orientation, deliverance finally breaks through to replace despair. The one who was sick is now well. The one who was surrounded by enemies has seen those enemies fall away. Abandonment has been met with restored and renewed fellowship. Quite naturally the psalms that emerge from these moments are those that celebrate God’s renewed intervention (Pss. 18, 30).

It is into this final psalm category that Psalm 34 falls. In the opening verses of the psalm the songwriter declares his determination to “extol the Lord at all times.” He proclaims that the Lord’s praise “will always be on my lips.” It is only in the succeeding verses of the psalm, though, that the reason for the psalmist’s praise becomes evident.

God responds when we call to Him. (4–7)

In verses 4–7 the psalmist looks back on a moment of distress and trouble, a time of disorientation. Reflecting on those times, the psalmist says, “[The Lord] answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” 

Satisfaction and goodness are ultimately found in God alone. (8–10)

After recalling his specific moment of deliverance in verses 4–7 the psalmist moves on in the next section of the psalm to reflect more broadly on the character of God.  Yes God intervened to rescue the psalmist in this particular circumstance but a life of faith moves beyond celebrating this isolated event. The Lord is good at all times and “blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

Those who respond with holiness and reverence experience God’s provision. (11–14)

Based on his own experience of deliverance the psalmist appeals to his hearers to respond to God’s grace with lives of obedience. He tells those who love life and desire to see many good days, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them. He delivers them from all their troubles.” The psalmist never suggests the righteous will not suffer. He knows, though, that they can be confident of God’s attentive care when they live their lives out in righteousness before Him.