Psalms 34:1

Thanksgiving for Yahweh’s Deliverance

1

Of David, when he {pretended to be crazy} in front of Abimelech so that he drove him out, and [so] he departed.

1 I will bless Yahweh at all times; his praise [shall be] in my mouth continually.

Psalms 34:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times
That is, ascribe blessing, give honour, praise, and glory to him, both as the God of nature and providence, for every temporal mercy; and that every day, and at all times in the day; since these are renewed every morning, and continue all the day long: and as the God of grace, for all spiritual blessings; and that continually, because these last always; they are irreversible, unchangeable, and without repentance; yea, saints have reason to bless God in times of adversity as well as prosperity, since it might have been worse with them than it is; they have a mixture of mercy in all, and all things work together for their good;

his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth;
not the "praise" of which God is the author, but of which he is the object; which is due unto him, and is given him on account of the perfections of his nature, and the works of his hands, and the blessings of his providence and grace; this, the psalmist says, should be in his mouth: his meaning is, that he should not only retain in his heart a grateful sense of the divine favours, but should express it with his lips; should both make melody in his heart to the Lord, and vocally sing his praise; and that "continually", as long as he lived, or had any being, ( Psalms 146:2 ) .

Psalms 34:1 In-Context

1 I will bless Yahweh at all times; his praise [shall be] in my mouth continually.

2 My soul makes its boast in Yahweh; let the humble hear and be glad.

3 Magnify Yahweh with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought Yahweh and he answered me, and from all my terrors he delivered me.

5 They looked to him and were radiant, and their faces shall not be ashamed.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "he changed his discernment"
• [b]. Literally "my father is king" whereas 1 Sam 21:10(9) has "Achish." "Abimelech" is perhaps an honorific title, since its literal meaning suggests a legitimate right to rule
• [c]. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one