What does Psalm chapter 34 mean?
Psalm 34 opens with something David expresses several times: a vow to constantly praise and honor God (Psalm 61:8; 145:1–2). David's comment about his "boast" being in God relates to Paul's similar references in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 10:17; Galatians 6:14). David's song appeals to others to join him in this worship (Psalm 34:1–3).The preface to this psalm refers to David escaping from Abimelech by altering his behavior. This event is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10–15. There, facing capture by the Philistines, David pretended to be insane. In that culture, those suffering insanity were thought to either be cursed by the gods, or specially touched with divine messages. In either case, most people wanted no contact, at all, with such people. What could have become a disaster for David ended in his safety. In this psalm, David gives thanks to God for hearing his prayers, and for protecting him (Psalm 34:4–7).
After thanking God for rescue, David turns to appeal to others to trust in the Lord. To "taste" means something more than a superficial experience. Those who fully engage in God's will find that He is powerful and merciful. As a former shepherd, David would have been familiar with lions, and knew that even those powerful creatures would suffer without food and shelter. David fully recognizes that faith in God does not make a person immune to hardship (Psalm 34:19). Still, he notes that God provides all that His people truly need (Psalm 34:8–10).
The next passage of the psalm is like the words of Solomon: promoting godly wisdom and the relative safety it provides (Proverbs 1:7–8). Obedience to God is not a magical defense against all harm (Psalm 34:19), but it keeps a person away from unnecessary consequences. Those who want the best outcomes in life are wise to pursue godliness and goodness, rather than sin (Psalm 34:11–14).
In keeping with those ideas, David then notes that God is aware of the struggles of His people. He is also aware of the sins of the wicked. Where God's attention for those who love Him is focused on compassion and mercy, His attention to those who are evil is centered on judgment (Psalm 34:15–18).
In the final section of this psalm, David both acknowledges the reality of suffering and the ultimate rescue provided by God. God's rescue of His people is not always in a physical sense (Hebrews 11:13–16; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; John 16:1–4, 33), but He promises ultimate salvation (John 10:28) to those who follow Him (Psalm 34:19–22).
Another interesting comment in this last passage is the reference to broken bones. Verse 20 mentions God preventing the bones of the righteous from being broken. In immediate context, this is clearly hyperbole: an exaggeration for effect. David's main point is that God is infinitely capable of protecting His people. However, this statement also serves as a prophecy about the death of the Messiah. Passover lambs were to be prepared without breaking the bones (Exodus 12:46), and Jesus was crucified without suffering any such injury (John 19:33–37). Paul notes that Jesus serves as the fulfillment of the Passover lamb type (1 Corinthians 5:7)—this comment by David is part of that foreshadowing.
