Psalm 34:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

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

NASB: The young lions do without and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.

CSB: Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.

NLT: Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

KJV: The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

NKJV: The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Having grown up in the outdoors, as a shepherd, David would have been acquainted with lions. We know from his testimony in 1 Samuel 17:34–35 that he killed at least one lion that was attacking his sheep. He probably encountered hungry lions more than once. David knew even strong, young lions could go hungry. In contrast to those animals, he was confident that those who seek the Lord lack nothing good for them.

Of course, this does not mean that we will always get what we "want" from God. Or, even that what we think are "needs" will be met. What we truly "need" is always understood in the context of God's will for us and our lives. Everyone who belongs to the Lord encounters adversity occasionally, but He uses that adversity for our good. The apostle Paul wrote that earthly sufferings cannot compare to the glory of eternity (Romans 8:18). Further, he assured us in Romans 8:28 that "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Paul further identified this purpose (Romans 8:29–30) as being conformed to the image of God's Son. God has not promised an affluent lifestyle to those who seek Him (John 16:33). What He has promised is that we will never lack what is in our best interest. He has not promised to meet our wants, or to satisfy our expectations, but He has promised to meet all our needs.

Psalm 34:8–14 invites others to experience the Lord's goodness. David has just praised the Lord for delivering him from the Philistines at Gath (1 Samuel 21:10–15). Now, he celebrates what God does for those who fear Him: He gives His people happiness; He protects them; He provides bountifully for them; and He grants them long life.

David praises the Lord for delivering him from the Philistines, and he invites others to join him in singing joyfully to the Lord. He extols the virtue of fearing the Lord and remembering His goodness. He encourages the Lord's people to respect God and offers wisdom leading to a long and blessed life. At the end of this psalm David emphasizes the distinction the Lord draws between the wicked and the righteous. He cares for the righteous and will not condemn them, but He condemns the wicked.

David composed this psalm after he escaped from the Philistines at Gath. He accomplished this by feigning insanity and later sheltered in the cave of Adullum. This experience is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10—22:1. Like Psalm 25, this is an acrostic psalm. Every verse except the final one begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. First Peter 2:3 alludes to the psalm's eighth verse, and 1 Peter 3:10–12 quotes verses 12–16 of Psalm 34. John 19:36 refers to Psalm 34:20.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.