Taste and See: Help When You Hunger for Deliverance (Ps 34)

Read Psalm 34:

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

¹ I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. ² My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. ³ Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! ⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. ⁵ Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. ⁶ This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. ⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. ⁸ Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! ⁹ Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! ¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. ¹² What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? ¹³ Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. ¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. ¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. ¹⁶ The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. ¹⁷ When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. ¹⁸ The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. ²⁰ He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. ²¹ Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. ²² The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Understand Psalm 34:

According to the superscript, Psalm 34 was written “Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.” David has fled to Gath to escape the wrath of Saul, king of Israel (1 Sam 19-20). There, the old heads of the city recognize David as the Israelite warrior who killed Goliath and the king-elect of whom the women sing: “David has slain ten thousands” (21:10-11). Since David is a wanted man, the Philistines bring him before the king for trial. David is “much afraid of Achish the king of Gath” (v. 12)[1] and pretends to be a madman until Achish complains humorously to his advisors, “Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?” (vv. 13-15). David escapes, then hides out in the cave of Adullam from both Saul and Achish (22:1-2), where he composes Psalm 34 as a testament to God’s deliverance. We can divide this psalm into praise and proclamation—song and sermon—doxology followed closely by sound doctrine.[2]

A.    Praise the Good God (vv. 1-10)[3]

In verses 1-10, David praises the good God: “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (v. 1). The believer’s praise does not have an “off switch,” even when pursued by Saul or despised by Achish. Instead, we “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess 5:18). Worship displays God’s beauty like a sculpture in a museum, ascribing to the Lord the glory he is due both in our hearts and also publicly before others. David continues, “My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad” (Ps 34:2). Worship removes you from the center of attention as you boast only in the Lord. Yet David’s voice alone is not enough to extol the manifold glories of God, so he calls upon God’s people to join him in his praise (v. 3). Perhaps he leads worship with those 400 men who gathered with him in the cave, their voices echoing from the walls: “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” So too, we magnify the Greatest Being in all the universe by adding voices to the choir as worship humbles us before the goodness of our God.

David then recalls his recent escapade in Gath: “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (vv. 4-5). This pattern: David feared; David prayed; God answered; God delivered—characterizes the believer’s life as “terror on every side” gives way to radiance![4] Any who look upon the Lord for guidance will have their faces shine like Moses on the mountain (Exod 34:29; see Isa 60:5; Jer 31:12).

David sought help in his time of weakness: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6). Again, we see the pattern: David was afflicted; He cried out in prayer; The Lord heard him; The Lord saved him. As in the wilderness, when God himself went before Israel in a pillar of cloud (Exod 34:19-20), “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them” (e.g., 2 Kgs 6:15-17; Josh 5:13-15).[5] When you fear the Lord more than trouble, God surrounds you; God protects you; and God delivers you. The Lord is greater than all your enemies even “when you meet trials of various kinds” (Jas 1:2b). He is good in every situation (Deut 6:24; Rom 8:28) and promises deliverance. So, when you are afraid, “cast all your anxieties upon him, because he cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7).

At the focal point of Psalm 34, David then exhorts God’s people: “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” (v. 8a).[6] When you order a delicious dish, you may invite others to share it with you, “Try this. It’s incredible!” Then, you savor each morsel and lick the plate clean. So also, believers will magnify the Lord as we urge one another, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Experience him! Know him with all your senses! Go beyond the theoretical!” (see 1 Pet 2:3). “Run to the Lord when you’re afflicted and turn to him for refuge. Fear him and not your lack of resources” (see Ps 34:8b-9; e.g., Deut 2:7). David doesn’t chalk up his deliverance from Achish to superb acting, quick thinking, or the folly of the Philistines. He knows that even the lion, the king of the beasts, is dependent on the Lord (Ps 34:10; see Job 4:10-11). So, he calls for us to seek the Lord—to fear him in all our attitudes and our actions. Here is the song before the sermon as we praise the goodness of our God.

B.    Proclaim the Good News of God (vv. 11-22)[7]

David then proclaims the good news of God: “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD” (Ps 34:11; see Prov 1:7; 8:13). David addresses grown men as “children” (lit., “sons) in the tradition of a wisdom teacher instructing his students (4:1; 5:7; 7:24; 8:32). This good news is not based on human effort, but on the sovereign goodness of our God (Ps 34:12). So, come before him with worshipful joy and act on his truths with reverent obedience: Avoid evil speaking; Tell the truth; Do what is right; Pursue peace with everyone (see vv. 13-14). This fear of the Lord bears clear resemblance to Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount:

• “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3).
• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (v. 6a)
• “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (v. 8).
• “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (v. 9).
• “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (v. 11).
• “Blessed are those who fear the Lord” (see 1 Pet 3:10-12).[8]

“The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry” (Ps 34:15). He looks with favor on those who fear him (see Num 6:24-26), yet his face “is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth” (Ps 34:16). Our good God refuses to celebrate injustice, but turns against the evildoer and blots their legacy from the earth. By contrast, the righteous pray; The Lord hears; The Lord delivers (v. 17). Certainly, this pattern for God’s people does not spare us from the present difficulties of life. We still endure broken hearts and find our spirits crushed (v. 18). Our afflictions are not just minor, but many (v. 19a). Thus, the Lord remains our help when we hunger for deliverance (v. 19b). We are blessed to know and fear the Lord—not by virtue of what we have, but because of Who we know.

Then, in verse 20, “[The Lord] keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” Surely, David observed the bone-crushing torturers awaiting the king’s command to turn him into powder. Yet Psalm 34 seems bigger than David, pointing backward to a type of Christ and also forward to its fulfillment. David turns his trust to Yahweh by recalling the exodus when God once rescued his people from another evil king. The night before departing from Egypt, God’s people ate an unblemished Passover lamb, whose throat had been slit and blood shed, but not a bone broken (Exod 12:46).

This practice remained a mystery until 1,000 years after David and 1,400 after Moses when Jesus came as the true and final Passover Lamb “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus was unblemished in his speech and never told a lie (1 Pet 2:1, 22). He performed good works and always did his Father’s will (John 8:28-29). He also made peace between God and man (Rom 5:1). Yet like that sacrificial lamb, whose blood was smeared upon the doorposts and the lintel of the house, Jesus shed his blood upon the cross (see 1 Cor 5:7b; 1 Pet 1:18-19). Because of him, we were passed over from the death we deserved. Because of him, we were set free from our slavery to sin. In fulfillment of this prophecy, John then writes the enigmatic statement, “For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken’” (John 19:36).[9] The Jewish people, who had observed the Passover for centuries since the exodus and sucked the meat off unbroken bones for generations, still had no idea that Moses prophesied of the Messiah yet to come. The men in the cave surrounding David rejoiced in their leader’s escape with all his bones intact. Yet they too did not realize how he pointed forward to the greater Davidic King who would one day lead his people. The Father alone knew from eternity past that he would send his Son to die. So he informed his prophet, John, through David and through Moses, that the Savior’s bones must not be broken, for Christ’s death upon the cross would not be the final word when God raised his Son to life again. Therefore, the practice of preserving the bones intact anticipated that promised resurrection. Christ today is our Passover Lamb and Strong Deliverer. He is our Messiah who died and rose again. Therefore, as we face trials and afflictions in this fallen world, we remember our risen Savior whose unbroken bones guarantee our future resurrection as well (1 Pet 1:3).

Psalm 34 concludes with a choice between two ways: “Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned” (v. 21). Saul and Achish; Pharaoh and Pilate; All those who hate the Lord and his Anointed, will face eternal judgment. Yet “the LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” (v. 22).[10] As in the exodus and the cave of Adullam, the Lord may deliver us in this life, though sometimes, he delays our salvation until eternal life (Rom 8:1, 33-34). Achish would give way to the next rotten ruler and Saul would take his life after the shame of military defeat (ironically to the Philistines). Yet David would go on to become Israel’s king and many of his mighty men would become advisors or generals in his army. They would be redeemed as in the exodus and find refuge instead of condemnation. Likewise, as we taste the goodness of our God, it is a lasting pleasure—an eternal glory. Only then, can we testify with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps 34:1). Only then, can we proclaim this good news to those around us: “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! . . . Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” (vv. 3, 8a).

Apply Psalm 34:

1. Read 1 Samuel 21:1-22:2, Psalms 52, and 56 to understand the context of Psalm 34. How does David’s song relate to that historical situation?
2. Notice the words in Psalm 34 which are repeated multiple times. As you read the psalm, consider each term in context: “hear” (vv. 2, 6, 11, 17); “deliver” (vv. 4, 17, 19); “fear” (vv. 7, 9a, 9b, 11); “good” (vv. 8, 10, 12, 14); “evil” (vv. 13, 14, 16, 19, 21); and “righteous” (vv. 15, 19, 21).
3. Consider how the Jews observed the Passover meal and how each element pointed forward to Jesus (Exod 12). How does John 19:36 fulfill both Exodus 12:46 and Psalm 34:20? In what way does Jesus serve as our Passover lamb (John 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7b; 1 Pet 1:18-19).
4. Read the context of Hebrews 6:5, 1 Peter 2:3, and 3:10-12 to observe how Psalm 34 is quoted in the New Testament as an encouragement for later believers. How does Jesus reflect on the fear of the Lord in his Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:1-12)?
5. What spiritual practices help you to “taste and see” the goodness of God? How can you intentionally exhort your fellow believers to “magnify the LORD . . . and exalt his name”?
6. Listen to Psalm 34 (Taste and See) by Shane & Shane. Identify any differences between a psalm that is sung and one that is read.

Counsel Psalm 34:

Believers, in the midst of hardship, might often forget what the goodness of God tastes like. Counselors can use Psalm 34 to explore the various troubles of life, but also God’s promised deliverance. For further insight, read Susan Thomas, “Psalm 34,” in Counseling Through the Psalms (Fort Worth, TX: The Association of Biblical Counselors, 2020), 46-47.

Projects for Growth (Psalm 34)

1. Write down life’s dangers which most threaten you today: pride (v. 2), fear (v. 4), shame (v. 5), enemies (v. 7), lacking (vv. 9-10), death (vv. 12, 20), evil speech (v. 13), sinful actions (v. 14), injustice (vv. 15-16, 21-22), troubles (v. 17), brokenheartedness (v. 18), and afflictions (v. 19). Then, from Psalm 34, write down God’s promises corresponding to each trial.
2. In times of difficulty, do you turn to the Lord for refuge (v. 8) or to someone or something else? What can you set in place to make God your first resort when you hunger for deliverance?
3. Meditate on the symbolic parallels between the Passover lamb (Exodus 12), David in the cave (1 Sam 21-22; Ps 34), and Christ on the cross (John 19). Why did the Holy Spirit divinely inspire these patterns throughout Scripture and what do they mean for you today?
4. Listen to Psalm 34 set to music as you taste and see that God is good. Journal all the evidence of God’s goodness which comes to mind.
5. Let your praise for God overflow into your proclamation to others. How can you magnify the Lord in the assembly of God’s people?
6. For further help, listen to Mike Emlet, “Taste and See: Cultivating Godly Desires and Emotions,” CCEF National Conference (2016), accessed at https://www.ccef.org/shop/product/taste-see-cultivating-godly-desires-emotions.

Pray Psalm 34:

• Lord, we bless your name at all times and boast in you alone (vv. 1-2).
• We magnify you and exalt your name together (v. 3).
• We praise you for delivering us (vv. 4, 7, 17, 19).
• So teach us to fear you, O Lord (vv. 7, 9, 11).
• We have tasted and seen that you are good (v. 8).

[1] Achish was also known by the title, “Abimelech,” which means “my father is king” (cp. Gen 20:2; 21:22-34; 26:8), and was a dynastic title for the Philistines.

[2] Spurgeon called the first ten verses a “hymn” and the last twelve verses a “sermon” (C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, vol. 1b, Psalms 27–57 [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1968], 122). Psalm 34 is also an acrostic psalm with each verse beginning with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet—a structure designed to aid in memory and to show the completeness of the psalmist’s praise. The acrostic is slightly altered such that the first (aleph) [v. 1], middle (lamed) [v. 11], and final (pe) [v. 22] letters spell out the Hebrew verb for “learn” or “teach” (ʾlp).

[3] In this first section, David invites us to praise the Lord (vv. 1-3), proclaims his personal testimony (vv. 4-7), then urges us to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (vv. 8-10).

[4] This particular word for “fear” only occurs here, but the related term in Psalm 31:3 and Jeremiah 6:25; 20:3, 10; 46:5; 49:29 depicts “terror on every side.”

[5] “The angel of the Lord” appears frequently in the historical books, but only three times in the psalter (Pss 34:7; 35:5, 6). It most likely refers to the Second Person of the Godhead (see Gen 16:7-14; Judg 6:11-23).

[6] Hamilton identifies a chiastic structure focusing on verses 8-14 (James M. Hamilton, Jr., Psalms, vol. 1, Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary [Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic, 2021], 374-75).

A     Praise (vv. 1-3)

B     Called, Heard, Delivered (vv. 4-7)

C     Taste and See (vv. 8-14)

B’    Called, Heard, Delivered (vv. 15-18)

A     Judgment and Redemption (vv. 19-22)

[7] David begins this section with teaching (vv. 11-14), then concludes with a summary of two ways to live (vv. 15-22). He uses repeated terminology to relate his personal testimony with that of God’s corporate people.

[8] 1 Peter 3:10-12 will quote verses 12-16 as a promise of God’s blessing for those who live a godly life.“Fear God and fear nothing else” (Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David [Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, n.d.], 1:124).

[9] It was customary to break the legs of those who were crucified so they would die more quickly and be taken off the crosses (see John 19:31-35). Yet Jesus was already dead when the Roman soldiers inspected him, so they had no need to break his bones.

[10] “To condemn” (vv. 21, 22) comes from the same verb as “to bear one’s guilt” (5:10). “To redeem” means “to rescue from great harm” and often refers to God’s deliverance of his people in the exodus (see Deut 7:8; 9:26; 13:5; 15:15; 24:18).