“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Psalm 34:1-10

“The 34th psalm is a psalm of thanks, much like the preceding psalm. It offers us the history of David as an example for all the righteous so we might learn from him that God never despises the cries of His saints. Moreover, it teaches us to fear God and no one else; further, to be on our guard against false teachers, against curses, grumblings, and slander. We should have patience, bless enemies rather than curse them, wish them all good, do good to them rather than evil, and so (as much as in us lies) to live at peace with all people, whether they are evil or godly. For it is certain (the psalmist says) that the righteous will suffer many things. It cannot be otherwise. If you will be righteous, you must take up your cross and suffer. This is how it must be. On the other hand, it is certain that the Lord will truly help us out of all these afflictions, that none of the least of your bones will be taken away or missing. Yes, even the hairs of the head are numbered. Although the bones of the saints in their martyrdom were often broken, some of them burnt to ashes, and many more decaying in their graces, they will yet return and not remain eternally broken or be called broken. Rather, for a time they will be broken, but afterward they will all again be more whole and healthy than they formerly were. This is the first psalm that speaks about angels, that they attend to the righteous and wait on us. They are not simply with us or around us. The angels are like an army—armed soldiers encamped around us, pitching their tents, keeping watch, and fighting for us against the devil and all his minions. This is a great and excellent comfort for all who believe, as the prophet Elisha, following this verse, made clear with his clear and correct example (2 Kings 6:17). But this verse is taken from Genesis 32:1–2, where the angels encounter the patriarch Jacob, because of which he called that city “army” or “camp.” For they were his troops and camped around him as a protection, as the psalm here states.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

“And let us exalt his name together”: the Psalmist begins by stating that his praise of G-d is continually in his mouth. Have you found yourself singing a hymn in your head — or being reminded of a piece of scripture as you go about your day — and soon realize you have been repeating it most of the day? By doing this you have had a mind of proclamation similar to what the Psalmist is suggesting — for by doing this, even if it has not been completely central in your mind, by making mention of G-d’s works or words, you have been exalting the Lord. And by praising G-d through song or words you have had the Lord on your lips and in your mouth all day.

There is no better work for the Christian than to share or the wonderful things G-d has done for them. And by singing a hymn quietly to yourself, or by repeating a passage to yourself or even to someone you know well, you have joined in the sharing of the wonderful things that God has done, and may even bring someone else closer to G-d.

PRAYER

O God, Spirit of truth, who spoke of old by kings and prophets, enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may read aright the psalms of Your servant David, learning from them that Jesus of Nazareth is He of whom the Scriptures spoke. Cause us ever more clearly to see that He, and He alone, is the Savior of our souls, that our heart may cling to Him alone. Amen.