Praise Without Ceasing!

Psalms 34:1-10

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

What a song of praise and hope!  The psalmist opens with giving blessings to the LORD at all times, which means in every type of circumstance, good or bad.  Like David, we should be praising our Lord always; just as we pray without ceasing, so should we praise without ceasing.  Going along with this praise is the heart of humility which gives joy and happiness to other humble persons who hear that our boasting is in God alone, not ourselves.  Pride led to the fall of us all in putting our reasoning above God’s word (Genesis 3:1, 17), while humility exalts God and willing obeys to please Him.  This gives us true happiness in seeking the things of God and thankfully giving Him alone the glory and praise (Hebrews 2:12, 13:15, Revelation 19:5).  We should imitate David by meeting together with others who love the Lord in order that we may corporately lift His name on high, exalting Him above everyone and everything else.  When we so pursue God, He hears our hearts and delivers us from our fears.  We have a solid rock to stand on with hope and trust of His goodness and grace to hear us as we follow.  This is the life of a godly disciple.  As verse 5 says, we can look to the Lord and find radiant joy to light up our countenance and find no shame in the testimony of knowing our Lord.  For when we cry out, realizing our poverty apart from Him, He delivers us from the troubles  because of His ever abiding presence and watchcare.  What is the lesson then?  Taste of the Lord to know His goodness.  Trust in Him fully with God-given faith.  Fear Him with awe and honor.  Trust His provision and providence as the birds of the air.  Realize that we will never lack what we truly require when we make the Lord our life’s desire!  Praise without ceasing.