What does Psalm 34:22 mean?
This final verse of Psalm 34 proclaims that God rescues those who serve Him—anyone and everyone who believes in Him will be saved (John 3:16–18). The apostle Paul wrote: "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).The immediate context of this statement is David's celebration of rescue from danger. Freedom from all suffering is not part of God's plan—something David himself understood well (Psalm 34:19). What is promised by God is ultimate, eternal salvation and restoration (John 10:28; Revelation 21:4). Those who follow the will of God in salvation (John 6:28–29) are guaranteed to be rescued from judgment (Romans 8:33–34).
When He condemned the world in Noah's time, God commanded Noah and his family to enter the ark, and then He shut them in (Genesis 7:13, 16). Outside the ark, the wicked perished, but inside the ark Noah and his family were safe. The ark is representative of Christ. All who are in Him are safe forever. God has shut us in. But outside Christ, all unbelievers perish unless they believe on Him (John 3:36).
