Psalm 34 – Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.

2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame..

6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34 is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
 

1. Praise Your Faithfulness in God:

The psalm begins with a powerful declaration:

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
— Psalm 34:1

David teaches us that worship is not only for good seasons. Praise becomes even more powerful during trials because it shifts our focus from our struggles to God’s faithfulness.
 

2. God Hears the Cry of the Brokenhearted:

This truth is echoed throughout Scripture.Jesus says:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
— Matthew 11:28

God invites weary hearts into His presence.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
— Psalm 147:3

3. Deliverance From Fear:

Fear has become common in today’s world. People fear failure, rejection, uncertainty, sickness, and the future. Yet Psalm 34 reminds believers that God responds when His people seek Him. This promise is reflected :

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God”
— Isaiah 41:10

4. Taste and See That the Lord Is Good:

When believers spend time in prayer, Scripture, worship, and obedience, they begin to witness God’s faithfulness firsthand. Jesus reflects this same invitation in:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.”
— John 6:35

5. Living a Life That Honors God:

A life devoted to God should be reflected in words, actions, and relationships. Believers are called to pursue peace, honesty, kindness, and righteousness. This connects beautifully with

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”
— James 1:19

6. God Rescues His People:

God’s rescue may not always come immediately, but His faithfulness never fails.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
— Romans 8:28

Even painful seasons can become testimonies of God’s grace.
 

Psalm 34 is a beautiful reminder that God hears prayers, comforts the brokenhearted, delivers from fear, and remains close during suffering. David’s testimony encourages believers to trust God in every season of life. No matter what challenges you face today, you can hold onto this promise:“The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”