Jesus was looked at and they are radiant

JESUS WAS LOOKED AT AND THEY ARE RADIANT
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Psalm34:5 5
Thosewho lookto him are radiant;their
faces are never covered with shame.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Life's Experiences Turned To Manifold Uses
Psalm34:1-22
C. Clemance There is no sufficient reasonfor severing this psalm from the
detail of history to which its title refers;and it is much to be wished that its
writer had uniformly turned his own experience to a use as wise as that which
he here urges upon others. But David's pen might be golden, though
sometimes his spirit was leaden; and we may study with greatadvantage the
ideal of life which he sets before us, learning from his experience how we may
realize that ideal, even though, in such a dimly lighted and corrupt age as his,
he fell beneath it. We, who have far more than David's privileges, ought to rise
to a level far beyond that to which he attained. Let us first note the experience
here recorded, and then see how varied are the uses to be made thereof.
I. HERE IS A TOUCHING RECORD OF LIFE'S EXPERIENCE.In many
respects it is such a one as thousands on thousands of God's people may have
passedthrough, and may be passing through now. If we number the points of
experience one by one, the preachermay expand such as may be most
appropriate to any ease orcases withwhich he may be dealing. Here is:
1. A first line of experience - man wanting help from God.
(1) Trouble. (Ver. 6.) A generalterm, yet conveying often the idea of strait-
ness, narrowness, andperplexity. This may arise from bodily weakness,

domestic trouble, personalbereavement, or any other of those manifold
causes ofanxiety to which we are liable.
(2) Fear. (Ver. 4.) The dread of the future is often a heavier care than the
distress of the present. How often would it be a greatrelief if we could see the
forthcoming issue of things! But this cannotbe. Hence fears arise, and we are
tempted to say, "I shall one day perish."
(3) Looking up. (Ver. 5.) We may, we can, look up above our weaknessand
helplessnessto One who is a "Stronghold in the day of trouble" (Psalm 61:2;
Psalm121:1). Note:It is a part of the high and holy education of the saints
that trouble teaches themto look up; and thus their whole natures become
elevated, as they feel and know that they belong to a higher world than this.
(4) Crying. (Ver. 6; see Psalm18:6.)In our darkesthours we know to whom
we speak (Psalm62:1). Howeverdark the night and lonely the path, the child
cannot help crying, "Father!" even when he cannotsee him.
(5) Seeking. (Ver. 4.) This is a prolongationof the cry. It indicates the attitude
of the soul, continuously directed towards the greatFriend and Helper.
(6) All this is in common with others. (Ver. 5.) "Theylooked," etc. Notone
alone, but millions, are at eachmoment looking up trustingly and hopefully,
awayfrom life's cares and sorrows, to him who ruleth over all. Hence we need
not wonderat:
2. A secondline of experience - God granting the help that is implored. As
there are six stages along the first, so are there six features of the second.
(1) The prayer is heard. (Vers. 4, 6.)Here is a grand field for exploration - the
Divine answers to prayer. To enumerate these would require volumes. The
saint may well store them up in his memory for the encouragementof
troubled ones afterwards. If we did but "give others the sunshine," and "tell
Jesus the rest," how rich would be the tokens ofmercy with which we should
rise from our knees!
(2) Angelic ministry is granted. (Ver. 7.) The existence and ministry of angels
are clearlyrevealedin the Word of God. Abraham; Jacob;Elijah; Daniel
(Hebrews 1:14; Psalm68:17). The phrase, "delivereth them" is equivalent to
"sets them free."
(3) Supplies are sent. (Vers. 9, 10.)It is one of the testimonies most frequently
given to those who visit God's people in trouble, that supplies are sent to them
exactly as they require them (Psalm37:25).

(4) Deliverance is sentdown. (Vers. 4, 7.) God, in trouble, makes and shows "a
way of escape."The dart has been turned aside just as it has seemedto be on
the point of striking.
(5) The face has been brightened. (Ver. 5.) The anxious look departs when
help comes;a lightened heart makes a brightened face.
(6) Consequently, it is proved that those who waiton God will not be put to
shame. (Ver. 5, RevisedVersion.) No! it cannot be. The covenant of God's
promise is "orderedin all things, and sure." Not from one alone, but from a
greatmultitude which no man can number, will the testimony come. "Notone
thing hath failed of all that the Lord hath spoken." "Thus saiththe Lord,
They shall not be ashamedthat wait for me."
II. THESE VARIED EXPERIENCESOF LIFE ARE HERE TURNED TO
MANIFOLD USES.
1. Towards God. (Vers. 1, 2.) The psalmist vows that, having such manifold
proof of what Godis to him, and of his faithfulness to all his promises, his life
shall be a perpetual song of praise; that he will make his boast in God's
goodness andgrace, so that those who have, like him, been in the depths of
affliction, may also, like him, be brought forth into a wealthy place. Note:
Deliverances broughtabout in answerto prayer should be followed by long-
continued and grateful praise.
2. Towards the saints. The psalmist
(1) exhorts the saints to join him in thankful song (ver. 3).
(2) He bids them try for themselves how goodthe Lord is (ver. 8), and he
would have them know the blessedness ofthose who trust in him (ver. 8).
(3) He bids them loyally obey their God: this is what is meant by the word
"fear" in ver. 9: not a fear of dread or of servility, but of loyal and obedient
reverence. Note:However severe the pressure or greatthe trouble, we never
need depart from the strict line of obedience to God.
(4) He assures them that no loyal souls shall ever be deserted (vers. 9, 10). God
will see to it that his faithful ones have all needful supplies.
3. Towards allwho have life before them. (Vers. 11, 12.)
(1) He invites the young to come and listen to him, as out of the depths of his
own experience he would show them the value of a godly life.
(2) He propounds a question, which may well evoke a response in many a
young aspiring heart (ver. 12). See the use to which the Apostle Peterputs this
passage(1 Peter3:10-16).

(3) He gives a clearand definite answer, directing them how to governthe lips
and the feet. The lips are to shun guile, and to speak peace andtruth. The feet
are to avoid evil, and to press after righteousness.
(4) He lays down for them a number of axiomata, which may well be their
guide through life.
(a) That the Lord does hear and answerprayer (vers. 15,17-20). The
experience of the faithful gives an overwhelming amount of proof of this.
(b) That in pressing on in life, they will find God's judgments abroad in the
earth, making a distinction betweenthose who serve him and those who serve
him not; rewarding one and condemning the other (ver. 21, RevisedVersion).
(c) That Divine deliverances will compass the righteous around (ver. 22,
RevisedVersion). Loyal souls will ever be receiving new proofs of the
goodness ofthe Lord, and of the blessedness ofsuch as put their trust in him!
"The wickedflee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a
lion!" Note:
1. Amid all the changefulcurrents of human thought and sentiment, there are
ever, ever, in all ages, climes, andlands, these two greatlines of indisputable
fact (vers. 15, 16), to which we do well to take heed - that the Lord is on the
side of good, and that "the face of the Lord is againstthem that do evil." No
perplexity in the mazes of metaphysicalor theologicalcontroversyoughtever
to concealorobscure These plain facts from view.
2. It behoves the young to profit by the experience of the old; for, though no
two experiences are preciselythe same in all details, and though eachone
must bear his ownburden, yet the lives of our fathers, as rehearsedto us by
them, do set forth clearlyand distinctly certain greatprinciples according to
which God governed and guided them - principles which are the same in every
age, and which we cannot ignore, save at imminent peril both for the life that
now is, and for that which is to come.
3. It behoves us to treasure up the experiences of life, to recount and to record
them for the use and help of those who have yet to setout on life's journey.
We know not how our young ones may be exposedin life. Gladly would we
give them the constantscreenofhome. But that cannotbe. Out into the world
they must go. With God's Spirit in their hearts, they are safe anywhere.
Without God, they are safe nowhere. We need not talk at them nor try to
preach religion obnoxiously to them; but we may, we can, we must, tell them
of our God and Saviour, telling them how he has helped us, and will help all
who follow him; that they, too, may "taste and see how goodthe Lord is"! - C.

Biblical Illustrator
They lookedunto Him and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed.
Psalm34:5
Goodauthority for a goodhope
James Wells.How low, oftentimes, has been the condition of the people of
God! See the lamentations of Jeremiah. But he and all God's saints have
lookedunto God and were lightened. Consider —
I. THEIR EXPECTATION. "Theylookedunto Him." They did so under —
1. The deluge of sin. This universal; none ever escapedit. "We are all under
sin."
2. The deluge of death.
3. Jehovah's eternalwrath. None, by and of themselves, canescape either. But
Jesus said, "Lo, I come," and He hath rolled back the waters ofeach, for all
them that look to Him.
4. Bondage. Israelwas in bondage, and so are God's people now. But the Lord
has promised to deliver them. "The sighing of the prisoners "comes before
Him, and He preserves those that "are appointed to die." The sins of our
nature are hard task-masters.
II. CONFIRMATION. They"were lightened" in mind and in soul. Let us
then rejoice in our religion, and we shall never be ashamed.
(James Wells.)
Looking unto JesusFromthe connectionwe are to understand the pronoun
"Him" as referring to the word "Lord" in the preceding verse. "They looked
unto the Lord Jehovah, and were lightened." But no man ever yet lookedto
JehovahGod, as He is in Himself, and found any comfort in Him, for "our
God is a consuming fire." The only way in which we can see Godis through
the MediatorJesus Christ.

I. First, LOOK TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN .HIS LIFE. Here the
troubled saint will find the most to enlighten him. In the example, in the
patience, in the sufferings of Jesus Christ, there are stars of glory to cheerthe
midnight darkness of the sky of your tribulation. One glimpse at Him may
well suffice for all our toils while on the road. Cheeredby His voice, nerved by
His strength, we are prepared to do and suffer, even as He did, to the death.
We trust that those of you who are weary Christians will not forgetto "look
unto Him, and be lightened."
II. Come, then, poor, doubting, trembling sinners and saints — COME YE
NOW TO CALVARY'S CROSS. CertainI am, that if we lived more with
Jesus, were more like Jesus, andtrusted more to Jesus, doubts and fears
would be very scarce. "Theylookedunto Him, and were lightened."
III. And now I invite you to a glorious scene — CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
You have lost, some of you, the dearestof your earthly relatives. There are
others under the constant fearof death. Come, come, behold Jesus Christ
risen! For remember, this is a greattruth — "Now is Christ risen from the
dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept."
IV. LOOK AT JESUS CHRIST ASCENDING INTO HEAVEN. You are
wrestling with spiritual enemies; you are at war to-day, and mayhap the
enemy has thrust sore at you, and you have been ready to fall; it is a marvel to
you that you have not turned like a cowardfrom the field. But tremble not,
your Masterwas more than conqueror, and so shall you be.
V. "LOOK UNTO HIM, AND BE LIGHTENED." See there He sits in
heaven, He has led captivity captive, and now sits at the right hand of God for
ever making intercessionforus. Like a greathigh priest of old, He stands with
outstretchedarms: there is majesty in His mien, for He is no mean, cringing
suppliant. If thou dost not succeed, He will; if thy intercessionbe unnoticed,
His cannotbe passedaway. Oh! be of good cheer, continue still thy
supplication. "Look unto Him, and be lightened."
( C. H. Spurgeon.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5)Were lightened.—The Hebrew
verb means properly “to flow,” but by a natural process, as in the common
phrases “streams oflight,” “floods of light,” acquired in Aramaic the sense of

“shining.” Such must be its meaning in Isaiah 60:5, almost the echo of the
thought in the psalm, the thought of a reflex of the Divine glory lighting up the
face of those who in trouble seek God. (Theodorethas “He who approaches
God, receives the rays of intellectual light.”) We naturally think of the dying
Stephen.
As to the construction, the subjectmust either be supplied from Psalm 34:2,
or it must be general. The LXX. and Vulg. avoid the difficulty by changing to
the secondperson.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary34:1-10 If we hope to spend eternity in
praising God, it is fit that we should spend much of our time here in this work.
He never said to any one, Seek ye me in vain. David's prayers helped to silence
his fears;many besides him have lookedunto the Lord by faith and prayer,
and it has wonderfully revived and comforted them. When we look to the
world, we are perplexed, and at a loss. But on looking to Christ depends our
whole salvation, and all things needful thereunto do so also. This poor man,
whom no man lookedupon with any respect, or lookedafter with any
concern, was yet welcome to the throne of grace;the Lord heard him, and
savedhim out of all his troubles. The holy angels minister to the saints, and
stand for them againstthe powers of darkness. All the glory be to the Lord of
the angels. Bytaste and sight we both make discoveries, andhave enjoyment;
Taste and see God's goodness;take notice of it, and take the comfort of it. He
makes all truly blessedthat trust in him. As to the things of the other world,
they shall have grace sufficientfor the support of spiritual life. And as to this
life, they shall have what is necessaryfrom the hand of God. Paul had all, and
abounded, because he was content, Php 4:11-18. Those who trust to
themselves, and think their own efforts sufficient for them, shall want; but
they shall be fed who trust in the Lord. Those shall not want, who with
quietness work, and mind their own business.
Barnes'Notes on the BibleThey lookedunto him - That is, they who were with
the psalmist. He was not alone when he fled to Abimelech; and the meaning
here is, that eachone of those who were with him lookedto God, and found
light and comfort in Him. The psalmist seems to have had his thoughts here
suddenly turned from himself to those who were with him, and to have called
to his remembrance how they "all" lookedto God in their troubles, and how
they all found relief.
And were lightened - Or, "enlightened." They found light. Their faces, as we
should say, "brightened up," or they became cheerful. Their minds were

made calm, for they felt assuredthat God would protect them. Nothing could
better express what often occurs in the time of trouble, when the heart is sad,
and when the countenance is sorrowful - a dark cloud apparently having come
over all things - if one thus looks to God. The burden is removed from the
heart, and the countenance becomes radiantwith hope and joy. The margin
here, however, is, "They flowedunto him." The Hebrew word, ‫רהנ‬ nâhar,
means sometimes "to flow, to flow together," Isaiah2:2; Jeremiah31:12;
Jeremiah51:44; but it also means "to shine, to be bright;" and thence, "to be
cheered, to rejoice," Isaiah60:5. This is probably the idea here, for this
interpretation is better suited to the connectionin which the word occurs.
And their faces were not ashamed - That is, they were not ashamedof having
put their trust in God, or they were not disappointed. They had not occasion
to confess that it was a vain reliance, orthat they had been foolish in thus
trusting him. Compare Job 6:20, note; Psalm 22:5, note; Romans 9:33, note; 1
John 2:28, note. The idea here is, that they found God to be all that they
expectedor hoped that he would be. They had no cause to repent of what they
had done. What was true of them will be true of all who put their trust in God.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary5-7. God's favor to the pious
generally, and to himself specially, is celebrated.
looked—withdesire for help.
lightened—or, "brightened," expressing joy, opposed to the downcastfeatures
of those who are ashamedor disappointed (Ps 25:2, 3).
Matthew Poole's CommentaryTheylooked;the humble, Psalm34:2; or they
that fear him, Psalm 34:7, when they were in distress. Or it is an indefinite
expression.
Unto him; either,
1. Unto the Lord, expressed Psalm34:4, i.e. they sought and expected help
from him. Or rather,
2. Unto this poor man, as it follows, Psalm34:6, or unto David. So he speaks of
himself in the third person, which is usual. So the sense is, when I was
delivered, Psalm34:4, men lookedupon me with wonder and astonishment, as
one savedin a prodigious manner.
Lightened, i.e. comfortedand encouragedby my example. But these and the
foregoing words are by the ancient interpreters read imperatively, as an

exhortation to others, to whom he oft addressethhis speech, as Psalm
34:3,8,9,11.
Look unto him, ( with an eye of faith and prayer,) and be ye enlightened, i.e.
take comfort in the expectationof mercy from him. And then the last words
they render thus, and your, Heb. their, (but the change of persons is very
frequent in this book,)fear shall not be ashamed. Their faces were not
ashamed;they were not disappointed of their hope, but found relief, as I did.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey lookedto him, and were lightened,....
That is, "the humble" ones, Psalm34:2; and so this is a reasonwhy they
should join in praising and magnifying the Lord; these "looked" up to God in
prayer and by faith, when in distressedand uncomfortable circumstances, for
help and deliverance, and a supply of every needful goodthing; and they were
"enlightened";so the Targum renders it, "their faces were enlightened";as
Jarchiand Aben Ezra interpret it, in oppositionto what follows:they must
have been enlightened before they could look, but by looking to the Lord more
light was gained: this chiefly designs the light of joy, peace, andcomfort,
which is had in a wayof believing: some render the word "and flowed" (l), as
a river does, that is, to the Lord, as in Jeremiah 31:12. So Kimchi and Ben
Melechexplain the word; and it denotes both the numbers of them that looked
up to the Lord in their distress, and the swiftness oftheir motion to him, and
their earnestnessand fervour of mind; so faith is not only a looking to Christ,
but a going forth unto him;
and their faces were not ashamed;having what they prayed and lookedfor,
and what they hoped and believed they should have; namely, deliverance and
salvation, and so peace and pleasure.
(l) "et confluunt", Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis;"et instar fluvii irruerint",
Piscator, Amama; "etconfluxerunt", Gejerus.
Geneva Study BibleThey {d} lookedunto him, and were lightened: and their
faces were not ashamed.
(d) They will be bold to flee to you for help, when they see your mercies
toward me.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges5. Theylooked&c.]The subject is
to be supplied from the verb. They that lookedunto him looked, and were
brightened. The earnestgaze of faith and confidence was not in vain. For the
phrase cp. Isaiah31:1; and for illustration see Numbers 21:9; Zechariah
12:10. The Heb. word for brightened is a rare word, found in Isaiah 60:5

(R.V.); but this, not flowed unto him (A.V. marg.) is the right sense. In most
editions They flowed is wrongly marked as the alternative to They looked. For
the thought cp. Psalm36:9.
were not ashamed]R.V. shall never be confounded, lit. put to the blush with
disappointment: a word which has not met us before in the Psalter, but recurs
twice in Psalms 35. (Psalm 35:4; Psalm35:26), and elsewhere.
The reading of the Massoretic textgives a fair sense, but the ancient Versions
(except the Targum) readan imperative in the first clause, and your faces in
the second. We should then render, Look unto him and be brightened, that
your faces may not be confounded. This reading is in itself probable, and is
supported by grammaticalconsiderations. The connexionof thought in Psalm
34:5-6 will then be exactly the same as in Psalm 34:3-4;an invitation, followed
by the statementof a factwhich supports it.
5, 6. Such experience of Jehovah’s help is not limited to the Psalmist.
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 5. - They lookedunto him, and were lightened; or,
were brightened (Hengstenberg);i.e. had their countenances lighted up and
cheered. And their faces were notashamed. As they would have been if God
had made no response to their appeal(comp. Psalm25:2, 3; Psalm74:21).
Keil and DelitzschBiblical Commentary on the Old TestamentAccordingly, in
this closing hexastich, the church acknowledges Him as its help, its shield, and
its source of joy. Besides the passagebefore us, ‫הּכה‬ occurs in only one other
instance in the Psalter, viz., Psalm106:13. This word, which belongs to the
group of words signifying hoping and waiting, is perhaps from the root ‫הח‬
(Arab. ḥk', ḥkâ, firmiter constringere sc. nodum), to be firm, compact, like ‫הּוה‬
from ‫,הוה‬ to pull tight or fast, cf. the German harren (to wait) and hart (hard,
compact). In Psalm 33:20 we still hear the echo of the primary passage
Deuteronomy 33:29 (cf. Deuteronomy33:26). The emphasis, as in Psalm
115:9-11, rests upon ‫,הּוה‬ into which ‫,וו‬ in Psalm 33:21, puts this thought, viz.,
He is the unlimited sphere, the inexhaustible matter, the perennial spring of
our joy. The second‫ּכּכ‬ confirms this subjectively. His holy Name is His
church's ground of faith, of love, and of hope; for from thence comes its
salvation. It can boldly pray that the mercy of the Lord may be upon it, for it
waits upon Him, and man's waiting or hoping and God's giving are
reciprocallyconditioned. This is the meaning of the ‫.ּכהאנ‬ God is true to His
word. The Te Deum laudamus of Ambrose closes in the same way.

STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES
Adam Clarke Commentary
They lookedunto him - Instead of ‫וטּכבה‬ hibbitu, they looked, severalofDr.
Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. have ‫וטּכבה‬ habbitu, with the point pathach,
"Look ye."
And their faces were not ashamed - Some MSS., and the Complutensian
Polyglot, make this clause the beginning of a new verse and as it begins with a
vau, ‫םהּכרפו‬ upheneyhem, "and their faces," theymake it supply the place of
the verse which appears to be lost; but see what is said in the introduction
before the first verse.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on Psalms 34:5". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/psalms-
34.html. 1832.
l " return to 'Jump List'
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
They lookedunto him - That is, they who were with the psalmist. He was not
alone when he fled to Abimelech; and the meaning here is, that eachone of
those who were with him lookedto God, and found light and comfort in Him.
The psalmist seems to have had his thoughts here suddenly turned from
himself to those who were with him, and to have calledto his remembrance
how they “all” lookedto God in their troubles, and how they all found relief.
And were lightened - Or, “enlightened.” They found light. Their faces, as we
should say, “brightened up,” or they became cheerful. Their minds were made
calm, for they felt assuredthat God would protect them. Nothing could better
express what often occurs in the time of trouble, when the heart is sad, and
when the countenance is sorrowful - a dark cloud apparently having come
over all things - if one thus looks to God. The burden is removed from the
heart, and the countenance becomes radiantwith hope and joy. The margin
here, however, is, “They flowedunto him.” The Hebrew word, ‫נהר‬nâhar

means sometimes “to flow, to flow together,” Isaiah2:2; Jeremiah31:12;
Jeremiah51:44; but it also means “to shine, to be bright;” and thence, “to be
cheered, to rejoice,” Isaiah60:5. This is probably the idea here, for this
interpretation is better suited to the connectionin which the word occurs.
And their faces were not ashamed - That is, they were not ashamedof having
put their trust in God, or they were not disappointed. They had not occasion
to confess that it was a vain reliance, orthat they had been foolish in thus
trusting him. Compare Job 6:20, note; Psalm 22:5, note; Romans 9:33, note; 1
John 2:28, note. The idea here is, that they found God to be all that they
expectedor hoped that he would be. They had no cause to repent of what they
had done. What was true of them will be true of all who put their trust in God.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert. "Commentaryon Psalms 34:5". "Barnes'Notesonthe Whole
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/psalms-34.html.
1870.
The Biblical Illustrator
Psalms 34:5
They looked unto Him andwerelightened;and their faces were not ashamed.
Goodauthority for a goodhope
How low, oftentimes, has been the condition of the people of God! See the
lamentations of Jeremiah. But he and all God’s saints have lookedunto God
and were lightened. Consider--
I. their expectation. “Theylookedunto Him.” They did so under--
1. The deluge of sin. This universal; none ever escapedit. “We are all under
sin.”
2. The deluge of death.
3. Jehovah’s eternalwrath. None, by and of themselves, canescape either. But
Jesus said, “Lo, I come,” and He hath rolled back the waters ofeach, for all
them that look to Him.
4. Bondage. Israelwas in bondage, and so are God’s people now. But the Lord
has promised to deliver them. “The sighing of the prisoners “comes before

Him, and He preserves those that “are appointed to die.” The sins of our
nature are hard task-masters.
II. confirmation. They “were lightened” in mind and in soul. Let us then
rejoice in our religion, and we shall never be ashamed. (JamesWells.)
Looking unto Jesus
From the connectionwe are to understand the pronoun “Him” as referring to
the word “Lord” in the preceding verse. “Theylookedunto the Lord Jehovah,
and were lightened.” But no man ever yet lookedto Jehovah God, as He is in
Himself, and found any comfort in Him, for “our God is a consuming fire.”
The only way in which we cansee God is through the Mediator Jesus Christ.
I. First, look to the Lord Jesus Christ in his life. Here the troubled saint will
find the most to enlighten him. In the example, in the patience, in the
sufferings of Jesus Christ, there are stars of glory to cheerthe midnight
darkness of the sky of your tribulation. One glimpse at Him may well suffice
for all our toils while on the road. Cheeredby His voice, nerved by His
strength, we are prepared to do and suffer, even as He did, to the death. We
trust that those of you who are weary Christians will not forgetto “look unto
Him, and be lightened.”
II. Come, then, poor, doubting, trembling sinners and saints--come ye now to
Calvary’s cross. CertainI am, that if we lived more with Jesus, were more like
Jesus, and trusted more to Jesus, doubts and fears would be very scarce.
“Theylookedunto Him, and were lightened.”
III. And now I invite you to a glorious scene--Christ’s resurrection. You have
lost, some of you, the dearestof your earthly relatives. There are others under
the constantfearof death. Come, come, behold Jesus Christ risen! For
remember, this is a greattruth--“Now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the first-fruits of them that slept.”
IV. look at Jesus Christ ascending into heaven. You are wrestling with
spiritual enemies;you are at war to-day, and mayhap the enemy has thrust
sore at you, and you have been ready to fall; it is a marvel to you that you
have not turned like a cowardfrom the field. But tremble not, your Master
was more than conqueror, and so shall you be.
V. “look unto him, and be lightened.” See there He sits in heaven, He has led
captivity captive, and now sits at the right hand of God for evermaking
intercessionfor us. Like a greathigh priest of old, He stands with outstretched
arms: there is majesty in His mien, for He is no mean, cringing suppliant. If
thou dost not succeed, He will; if thy intercessionbe unnoticed, His cannot be

passedaway. Oh! be of goodcheer, continue still thy supplication. “Look unto
Him, and be lightened.” (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Copyright Statement
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Exell, JosephS. "Commentary on "Psalms 34:5". The Biblical Illustrator.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tbi/psalms-34.html. 1905-
1909. New York.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
They lookedto him, and were lightened,.... That is, "the humble" ones, Psalm
34:2; and so this is a reasonwhy they should join in praising and magnifying
the Lord; these "looked" up to God in prayer and by faith, when in distressed
and uncomfortable circumstances,for help and deliverance, and a supply of
every needful goodthing; and they were "enlightened";so the Targum
renders it, "their faces were enlightened";as Jarchiand Aben Ezra interpret
it, in opposition to what follows:they must have been enlightened before they
could look, but by looking to the Lord more light was gained:this chiefly
designs the light of joy, peace, and comfort, which is had in a wayof believing:
some render the word "and flowed"F12
, as a river does, that is, to the Lord, as
in Jeremiah 31:12. So Kimchi and Ben Melechexplain the word; and it
denotes both the numbers of them that lookedup to the Lord in their distress,
and the swiftness of their motion to him, and their earnestnessand fervour of
mind; so faith is not only a looking to Christ, but a going forth unto him;
and their faces were not ashamed;having what they prayed and lookedfor,
and what they hoped and believed they should have; namely, deliverance and
salvation, and so peace and pleasure.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855

Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on Psalms 34:5". "The New John Gill Exposition of
the Entire Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/psalms-
34.html. 1999.
Geneva Study Bible
They d
lookedunto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not
ashamed.
(d) They will be bold to flee to you for help, when they see your mercies
toward me.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Beza, Theodore. "Commentaryon Psalms 34:5". "The 1599 Geneva Study
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsb/psalms-34.html.
1599-1645.
Wesley's ExplanatoryNotes
They lookedunto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
Lightened — Comforted and encouraged.
Ashamed — They were not disappointed of their hope.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.
Bibliography
Wesley, John. "Commentary on Psalms 34:5". "John Wesley's Explanatory
Notes on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/psalms-34.html. 1765.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
5.They shall look to him, and shall flow to him. I have already intimated, that
this verse and the following should be readin connectionwith the preceding
verse. In relating his ownexperience David has furnished an example to
others, that they should freely and without fear approach God in order to
present their prayers before him. Now, he says that they shall come, and this
too with a happy issue. The first two verbs are expressedin the past time in
the Hebrew; but I have, notwithstanding, no doubt that the sentence ought to
be explained thus: When they shall have lookedto him, and flowed to him,
their faces shallnot be ashamed. I have therefore translated them in the
future tense. David is not relating things which had happened, but is
commending the fruit of the favor which had been manifested to himself.
Some interpreters, I know, refer the words to him to David, (691)because
immediately after he speaks ofhimself in the third person. Others with
greaterpropriety explain it; of God himself. A difference of opinion also exists
as to the Hebrew verb ‫ונהר‬ , naharu, which some, supposing it to be derived
from the root‫,נוה‬ or, render to be enlightened. (692)But, in my opinion, the
natural significationof the word appears very appropriate to this place;as if
he had said, There shall now be a mirror setforth, in which men may behold
the face of God serene and merciful; and therefore the poor and afflicted shall
henceforth dare to lift up their eyes to God, and to resortto him with the
utmost freedom, because no uncertainty shall any longer retard them or
render them slothful. If, however, any one should prefer the word enlighten,
the meaning will be, They who formerly languishedin darkness shalllift up
their eyes to God, as if a light had suddenly appeared unto them, and they
who were castdown and overwhelmedwith shame, shall again clothe their
countenances withcheerfulness. But as the meaning in either case is
substantially the same, I am not much disposedto contend which of the two
interpretations ought to be preferred.
“Look towards him, and thou shalt be enlightened;
And your faces shallnever be ashamed.”
This reading is sanctionedby the Septuagint. It supposes two alterations on
the text. First, that insteadof ‫וטּכבה‬ , they looked, we should read ‫,וטּכבה‬habitu,
look ye; and this last reading is supported by severalof Dr Kennicott’s and De
Rossi’s MSS. The other alteration is, that instead of ‫,ופרּכהש‬ upeneyhem, their
faces, we should read ‫שכּכרפו‬, upeneykem, yourfaces. Poole, in defense of
reading your instead of their, observes, “thatthe change of persons is very
frequent in this book.”

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Calvin, John. "Commentary on Psalms 34:5". "Calvin's Commentary on the
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/psalms-34.html.
1840-57.
John Trapp Complete Commentary
Psalms 34:5 They lookedunto him, and were lightened: and their faces were
not ashamed.
Ver. 5. They lookedunto him, and were lightened] They, that is, my servants
and fellow soldiers who accompaniedme first to Nob, 1 Samuel21:2; 1
Samuel 21:4, Matthew 12:3-4, and afterwards to Gath (as it is probable);
these being in the same danger, lookedlikewise unto God by faith, hope, and
prayer; and were lightened; that is, comforted, cheered, directed, yea,
delivered togetherwith David. Or, they flowed together, viz. to God, as rivers
roll to the sea, or malefactors run to the sanctuary, Isaiah2:2; Isaiah60:5.
And their faces were not ashamed] i.e. They were not repulsed, disappointed,
made to hide their heads, as Revelation6:15-16.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Trapp, John. "Commentary on Psalms 34:5". John Trapp Complete
Commentary. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/psalms-
34.html. 1865-1868.
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible
Psalms 34:5. And were lightened— The original verb ‫נהר‬ naharsignifies,
properly, to flow down orflow around, and is used of the flow of rivers, and
with equal propriety applied to the flow of light. Accordingly, in the Chaldee
and Arabic languages, it has the significationof light and splendor, and
unquestionably it had the same originally in the Hebrew. See Job3:4. The
meaning of the word in the passagebefore us is, that the humble lookedunto
God for the Psalmist's protection, and receivedthat light; i.e. that comfort and

joy from him upon David's return in safety, which diffused itself throughout
their whole hearts; so that their faces were not ashamed, or, as the word ‫נפה‬
chapar signifies, "notput to the blush for shame," by being disappointed as to
their hope on his account. Chandler. It may be proper just to observe, that
this is another of the alphabeticalpsalms; but that this 5th verse includes two
letters, and yet is no longerthan the rest, which have only one of these initial
letters. This verse is translated by many, Approach, or look unto the Lord, and
be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed. Seethe versions, and
Houbigant. Fenwick renders it,
Who look to him, have always comfortfound; None e'er do that, and go away
asham'd.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Coke, Thomas. "Commentaryon Psalms 34:5". Thomas Coke Commentary
on the Holy Bible. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tcc/psalms-
34.html. 1801-1803.
Matthew Poole's EnglishAnnotations on the Holy Bible
They looked;the humble, Psalms 34:2; or they that fear him, Psalms 34:7,
when they were in distress. Or it is an indefinite expression.
Unto him; either,
1. Unto the Lord, expressedPsalms 34:4, i.e. they sought and expected help
from him. Or rather,
2. Unto this poor man, as it follows, Psalms 34:6, or unto David. So he speaks
of himself in the third person, which is usual. So the sense is, when I was
delivered, Psalms 34:4, men lookedupon me with wonder and astonishment,
as one savedin a prodigious manner.
Lightened, i.e. comfortedand encouragedby my example. But these and the
foregoing words are by the ancient interpreters read imperatively, as an
exhortation to others, to whom he oft addressethhis speech, as Psalms
34:3,8,9,11.
Look unto him, ( with an eye of faith and prayer,) and be ye enlightened, i.e.
take comfort in the expectationof mercy from him. And then the last words

they render thus, and your, Heb. their, (but the change of persons is very
frequent in this book,) fear shall not be ashamed. Theirfaces were not
ashamed;they were not disappointed of their hope, but found relief, as I did.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Poole, Matthew, "Commentaryon Psalms 34:5". Matthew Poole's English
Annotations on the Holy Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mpc/psalms-34.html. 1685.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
5. They looked— “Looked,” here, imports intense longing, as Numbers 21:9.
But who “looked?” The subjectof the verb is not apparent, the humble,
(Psalms 34:2,) being too far removed. It is better takenas a universal truth, as
if David had suddenly generalizedhis localexperience. “Theylooked,”—equal
to, whosoeverlooketh, etc.
Were lightened— Brightened up. The shining of God’s face radiated theirs.
Exodus 34:29-35. The word naharcommonly means to flow, (the noun is the
ordinary word for river,) and might here be rendered flowed together; but as
it stands contrastedwith ashamed, in the next line, it is better to take the more
radical sense, as in Isaiah 60:5, where instead of “flow together,” as in the
English Bible, read “shaltshine.”
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Whedon, Daniel. "Commentary on Psalms 34:5". "Whedon's Commentary on
the Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/whe/psalms-
34.html. 1874-1909.
George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary
Dust. Hebrew mots, small "chaff," Psalmi. 4. (Vatable) --- Angel. The evil
spirits are employed to punish the wicked, as goodprotectthe just, Psalm

xxxiii. 8. Some Fathers have supposedthat every man was attended by a good
and a bad angel. (Hermes ii.; Origen xxxv. in Luke; St. Gregory of Nyssa, vit.
Mos.;Cassianviii. 17., and xiii. 12.) --- But the Church admits the powerof
the wickedspirits only againstthose who take part with them, or "as far as
God allows them" (St. Jerome)to tempt. The devil is like a dog chained down,
which can bite none but those who come within its reach. (St. Augustine) ---
Both goodand bad angels are ministers of God's justice. (Haydock)
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Haydock, George Leo. "Commentaryon Psalms 34:5". "GeorgeHaydock's
Catholic Bible Commentary".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hcc/psalms-34.html. 1859.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
They looked. Some codices,with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read
Imperative, "Look. ! "
looked= lookedexpectantly. To this end Jehovahkeeps us in salutary
suspense.
unto Him. That is why they were radiant. To look within is to be miserable
(see notes on 77). To look around is to be distracted (see notes on 73).
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on Psalms 34:5". "E.W.
Bullinger's Companion bible Notes".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bul/psalms-34.html. 1909-
1922.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
They lookedunto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

They ... lightened. In their times of darkness they were brightened with the
light of His countenance, so that serenity was restoredto their countenance
(Psalms 4:6; Numbers 6:26). By the word "they" are meant "the humble"
(Psalms 34:2), whose representative the Palmist is; hence, he naturally passes
from the singular "I" (Psalms 34:4, wherein his own personalexperience is
stated) to the plural "they" (Psalms 34:5); his case is only an exemplification
of the generalprinciple which holds good to all the humble godly.
Not ashamed. They were not put to the shame of disappointment by the
refusal of their prayer. The Hebrew Not ashamed. They were not put to the
shame of disappointment by the refusal of their prayer. The Hebrew negative
here used [ 'al (Hebrew #408), like the Greek mee (Greek #3361)]is subjective,
and emphatically rejects the thought of the faces ofthe humble being put to
shame.
[waw (w)]
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on
Psalms 34:5". "CommentaryCritical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -
Unabridged". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfu/psalms-
34.html. 1871-8.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(5) Were lightened.—The Hebrew verb means properly “to flow,” but by a
natural process, as in the common phrases “streams of light,” “floods of
light,” acquired in Aramaic the sense of “shining.” Such must be its meaning
in Isaiah 60:5, almost the echo of the thought in the psalm, the thought of a
reflex of the Divine glory lighting up the face of those who in trouble seek
God. (Theodorethas “He who approaches God, receives the rays of
intellectual light.”) We naturally think of the dying Stephen.
As to the construction, the subjectmust either be supplied from Psalms 34:2,
or it must be general. The LXX. and Vulg. avoid the difficulty by changing to
the secondperson.

PRECEPT AUSTIN RESOURCES
SPURGEON
Looking Unto Jesus
“Theylookedunto Him and were lightened: and their faces were not
ashamed.”
Psalm34:5
FROM the connectionwe are to understand the pronoun “Him” as referring
to the word “Lord” in the preceding verse. “Theylookedunto the Lord
Jehovahand were lightened.” But no man ever yet lookedto JehovahGod, as
He is in Himself, and found any comfort in Him, for “our God is a consuming
fire.” An absolute God, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, can afford no
comfort whateverto a troubled heart. We may look to Him and we shall be
blinded, for the light of Godheadis insufferable and as mortal eye cannotfix
its gaze upon the sun, no human intellect could ever look unto God and find
light, for the brightness of God would strike the eye of the mind with eternal
blindness. The only way in which any can see Godis through the Mediator
Jesus Christ–
“Till God in human flesh I see,
My thoughts no comfort find.”
God shrouded and veiled in the manhood–there we can with steadygaze
behold Him, for so He comes downto us and our poor finite intelligence can
understand and lay hold upon Him. I shall therefore use my text this morning
and I think very legitimately, in reference to our Lord and SaviorJesus
Christ.–“Theylookedunto Him and were lightened.” For when we look at
God, as revealedin Jesus Christ our Lord and behold the Godheadas it is
apparent in the Incarnate Man who was born of the Virgin Mary and was
crucified by Pontius Pilate, we do see that which enlightens the mind and casts
rays of comfort into our awakenedheart.
And now this morning, I shall first invite you, in order to illustrate my text, to
look to Jesus Christ in His life on earth and I hope there are some of you who
will be lightened by that. We shall then look to Him on His Cross. Afterwards

we shall look to Him in His resurrection. We shall look to Him in His
intercession. And lastly, we shall look to Him in His secondcoming. And it
may be, as with faithful eye we look upon Him the verse shall be fulfilled in
our experience, whichis the best proof of a Truth of God, when we prove it to
be true in our own hearts. We shall “look unto Him” and we shall “be
lightened.”
1. First, then, we shall LOOK TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN HIS
LIFE. And here the troubled saint will find the most to enlighten him in
the example, in the patience, in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. These are
stars of glory to cheerthe midnight darkness ofthe skyof your
tribulation. Come here, you children of God and whatevernow are your
distresses,whetherthey be temporal or spiritual, you shall, in the life of
Jesus Christ and His sufferings, find sufficient to cheerand comfort
you–if the Holy Spirit shall now open your eyes to look unto Him.
Perhaps I have among my congregation, indeedI am sure I have, some who
are plunged in the depths of poverty. You are the children of toil. With much
sweatofyour brow you eat your bread. The heavy yoke of oppressiongalls
your neck. Perhaps at this time you are suffering the very extremity of
hunger. You are pinched with famine and though in the House of God, your
body complains, for you feelthat you are brought very low. Look unto Him,
you poor distressedBrotherin Jesus–look unto Him and be lightened–
“Why do you complain of want or distress,
Temptation or pain?–He told you no less;
The heirs of salvation, we know from His Word,
Through much tribulation must follow their Lord.”
See Him there! Forty days He fasts and He hungers. See Him again, He treads
the wearyway and at lastall athirst He sits upon the curb of the well of
Sychar and He, the Lord of Glory, He who holds the clouds in the hollow of
His hand, said to a woman, “Give me to drink.” And shall the servant be
above his Masterand the disciple above his Lord? If He suffered hunger and
thirst and nakedness, O heir of poverty, be of goodcheer!In all these you
have fellowship with Jesus. Thereforebe comforted and look unto Him and be
lightened.
Perhaps your trouble is of another caste. You have come here today smarting
from the forkedtongue of that adder–slander. Your character, thoughpure
and spotless before God, seems to be lostbefore man. For that foul slanderous
thing has soughtto take awaythat which is dearer to you than life itself, your
character, your goodfame. And you are this day filled with bitterness and

made drunken with wormwood, because you have been accusedof crimes
which your soul loathes. Come, you child of mourning, this indeed is a heavy
blow–poverty is like Solomon’s whip, but slanderis like the scorpionof
Rehoboam. To fall into the depths of poverty is to have it on your little finger,
but to be slandered is to have it on your loins.
But in all this you may have comfort from Christ. Come and look unto Him
and be lightened. The King of kings was calleda Samaritan. They said of Him
that He had a devil and was mad. And yet infinite wisdomdwelt in Him,
though He was chargedwith madness. And was He not everpure and holy?
And did they not call Him a drunken man and a winebibber? He was His
father’s glorious Son and yet they said He did castout devils through
Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Come! Poorslanderedone, wipe that tear away!“If they have calledthe
Masterof the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call they of His
household?” If they had honored Him, then might you have expectedthat they
would honor you. But as they mockedHim and took awayHis glory and His
characterHe blushed not to bear the reproachand the shame, for He is with
you, carrying His Cross before you. And that Cross was heavierthan yours.
Look, then, unto Him and be lightened.
But I hear another say, “Ah, but my trouble is worse than either of those. I am
not today smarting from slander, nor am I burdened with penury. But, Sir,
the hand of God lies heavy upon me. He has brought my sins to my
remembrance. He has taken awaythe bright shining of His countenance. Once
I did believe in Him and could ‘read my title clearto mansions in the skies.’
But today I am brought very low. He has lifted me up and castme down like a
wrestler. He has elevatedme that He might dash me to the ground with the
greaterforce. My bones are sore vexed and my spirit within me is melted with
anguish.”
Come, my tried Brother, “look unto Him and be lightened.” No longer groan
over your own miseries, but come with me and look unto Him, if you can. See
the gardenof Olives? It is a coldnight and the ground is crisp beneath your
feet for the frost is hard. And there in the gloomof the olive garden, kneels
your Lord. Listen to Him. Can you understand the music of His groans, the
meaning of His sighs? Surely your griefs are not so heavy as His were, when
drops of blood were forcedthrough His skin and a bloody sweatdid stain the
ground! Say, are your trials greaterthan His?
If, then, He had to combat with the powers of darkness, expectto do so also.
And look to Him in the last solemnhour of His extremity and hear Him say,

“My God, My God, why have You forsakenMe?”And when you have heard
that, murmur not, as though some strange thing had happened to you. As if
you have to join in His “lama Sabacthani,” and have to sweatsome few drops
of His bloody sweat. “Theylookedunto Him and were lightened.”
But, possibly I may have here someone who is much persecutedby man.
“Ah,” says one, “I cannot practice my religionwith comfort. My friends have
turned againstme. I am mockedand jeeredand reviled, for Christ’s sake.”
Come, Christian, be not afraid of all this, but, “look unto Him and be
lightened.” Remember how they persecutedHim? Oh, think of the shame and
spitting, the plucking off the hair, the reviling of the soldiers. Think of that
fearful march through the streets, whenevery man did hoot Him and when
even they that were crucified with Him did revile Him. Have you been treated
worse than He?
Methinks this is enough to make you gird your armor on once more. Why
need you blush to be as much dishonored as your Master? It was this thought
that cheeredthe martyrs of old. They that fought the bloody fight knew they
should win the blood-red crown–thatruby crown of martyrdom. Therefore
they did endure, as seeing Him who is invisible. For this ever cheeredand
comforted them. They remembered Him who had “endured such
contradiction of sinners againstHimself, that they might not be wearyor faint
in their minds.” They “resistedunto blood, striving againstsin.” For they
knew their Masterhad done the same and His example did comfort them.
I am persuaded, beloved Brothers and Sisters, that if we lookedmore to
Christ, our troubles would not become anything like so black in the dark
night. Looking to Christ will clearthe ebony sky. When the darkness seems
thick, like that of Egypt, darkness that might be felt, like solid pillars of
ebony, even then, like a bright lightning flash, as bright but not as transient,
will a look to Jesus prove. One glimpse at Him may well suffice for all our toils
while on the road.
Cheeredby His voice, nerved by His strength, we are prepared to do and
suffer, even as He did, to the death, if He will be with us, even unto the end.
This, then, is our first point. We trust that those of you who are weary
Christians, will not forgetto “look unto Him and be lightened.”
II. And now I have to invite you to a more dreary sight. But, strange it is just
as the sight becomes more black, so to us does it grow more bright. The more
deeply the Savior dived into the depths of misery, the brighter were the pearls
which He brought up–the greaterHis griefs, the greaterour joys and the
deeper His dishonor, the brighter our glories. Come, then–and this time I shall

ask poor, doubting, trembling sinners and saints to come with me–come now
to Calvary’s Cross. There, onthe summit of that little hill, outside the gates of
Jerusalem, where common criminals were ordinarily put to death–the Tyburn
of Jerusalem, the Old Baileyof that city, where criminals were executed–there
stand three crosses. The centerone is reservedfor One who is reputed to be
the greatestofcriminals.
See there! They have nailed Him to the Cross. It is the Lord of Life and Glory,
before whose feet angels delight to pour full vials of glory. They have nailed
Him to the Cross–He hangs there in mid-Heaven, dying, bleeding–He is
thirsty and He cries. They bring Him vinegar and thrust it into His mouth. He
is in suffering and He needs sympathy but they mock Him and they say, “He
savedothers, Himself He cannotsave.” Theymisquote His words, they
challenge Him now to destroy the temple and build it in three days.
While the very thing was being fulfilled, they taunt Him with His
powerlessnessto accomplishit. Now see Him, before the veil is drawn over
agonies too black for eye to behold. See Him now! Was ever face marred like
that face? Was everheart so big with agony? And did eyes ever seemso
pregnant with the fire of suffering as those great wells of fiery agony? Come
and behold Him, come and look to Him now. The sun is eclipsed, refusing to
behold Him! Earth quakes. The dead rise. The horrors of His sufferings have
startled earth itself–
“He dies! The Friend of sinners dies.”
And we invite you to look to this scene that you may be lightened. What are
your doubts this morning? Whateverthey are, they can find a kind and fond
solution here, by looking at Christ on the Cross. You have come here,
perhaps, doubting God’s mercy. Look to Christ upon the Cross and can you
doubt it then? If God were not full of mercy and plenteous in His compassion,
would He have given His Son to bleed and die? Do you think that a Father
would rend His darling from His heart and nail Him to a tree, that He might
suffer an ignominious death for our sakes andyet be hard, merciless and
without pity? God forbid the impious thought! There must be mercy in the
heart of God or else there had never been a Cross onCalvary.
But do you doubt God’s powerto save!Are you saying to yourself this
morning, “How can He forgive so greata sinner as I am?” Oh, look there,
Sinner, look there, to the greatatonement made, to the utmost ransom paid.
Do you think that that blood has not an efficacyto pardon and to justify?
True, without that Cross it had been an unanswerable question–“How can
God be just and yet the justifier of the ungodly?” But see there the bleeding

Substitute! And know that God has acceptedHis sufferings as an equivalent
for the woes ofall Believers. And then let your spirit dare to think, if it can,
that the blood of Christ is not sufficient to enable God to vindicate His justice
and yet to have mercy upon sinners.
But I know you say, “My doubt is not of His generalmercy, nor of His power
to forgive, but of His willingness to forgive me.” Now I beseechyou, by Him
that lives and was dead, do not this morning look into your own heart in order
to find an answerto that difficulty. Do not sit down and look at your sins.
They have brought you into the danger–they cannotbring you out of it. The
best answeryou will ever getis at the foot of the Cross.
Sit down, when you get home this morning, for half-an-hour in quiet
contemplation. Sit at the footof the Cross and contemplate the dying Savior
and I will defy you then to say, “I doubt His love to me.” Looking at Christ
begets faith. You cannot believe on Christ except as you see Him and if you
look to Him you will learn that He is able to save. You will learn his loving
kindness. And you cannotdoubt Him after having once beheld Him. Dr.
Watts says–
“His worth, if all the nations knew,
Sure the whole world would love Him, too,”
and I am sure it is quite true if I read it another way–
Sure the whole world would trust Him, too."
Oh, that you would look to Him now and your doubts would soonbe removed.
For there is nothing that so speedily kills all doubt and fear as a look into the
loving eyes of the bleeding, dying Lord. “Ah,” says one, “but my doubts are
concerning my own salvation in this respect. I cannotbe so holy as I want to
be.” “I have tried very much,” says one, “to getrid of all my sins and I cannot.
I have labored to live without wicked thoughts and without unholy acts and I
still find that my heart is ‘deceitful above all things.’ And I wanderfrom God.
Surely I cannot be saved, while I am like this?”
Stop! Look to Him and be lightened. What business have you to be looking to
yourself? The first business of a sinner is not with himself, but with Christ.
Your business is to come to Christ–sick, wearyand soul-diseased–andask
Christ to cure you. You are not to be your own physician and then go to
Christ–but just as you are. The only salvationfor you is to trust implicitly,
simply, nakedly, on Christ. As I sometimes put it–make Christ the only pillar
of your hope and never seek to buttress or prop Him up. “He is able, He is
willing.” All He asks ofyou is just to trust Him.

As for your goodworks, they shall come afterwards. They are after-fruits of
the Spirit. Your first business is not to do, but to believe. Look to Jesus and
put your trust only in Him. “Oh,” anothercries, “Sir, I am afraid I do not feel
my need of a Savioras I ought.” Looking to yourselves again!All looking to
yourselves you see!This is all wrong. Our doubts and fears all arise from this
cause–we willturn our eyes the wrong way. Just look to the Cross again, just
as the poor thief did when he was dying. He said, “Lord, remember me when
you come into Your kingdom.”
Do the same. You may tell Him, if you please, that you do not feel your need of
Him as you ought. You may put this among your other sins, that you fear you
have not a right sense ofyour greatand enormous guilt. You may add to all
your confessions, this cry “Lord help me to confess my sins better. Help me to
feel them more penitently.” But remember, it is not your repentance that
saves you. It is the blood of Christ, streaming from His hands and feetand
side. Oh, I beseechyou by Him whose servantI am! This morning turn your
eyes to the Cross ofChrist. There He hangs this day. He is lifted up in your
midst. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, evenso is the Son of
Man lifted up today in your eyes that whosoeverbelieves in Him may not
perish, but have everlasting life.
And you children of God, I turn to you, for you have your doubts, too. Would
you getrid of them? Would you rejoice in the Lord with faith unmoved and
confidence unshaken? Then look to Jesus. Look againto Him and you shall be
lightened. I know not how it is with you, my beloved Friends, but I very often
find myself in a doubting frame of mind. And it seems to be a question
whether I have any love to Christ or not. And despite the fact that some laugh
at the hymn, It is a hymn that I am forcedto sing–
“ ‘Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought!
Do I love the Lord or not
Am I His, or am I not?”
And I am convinced that every Christian has his doubts at times and that the
people who do not doubt are just the people that ought to doubt. Forhe who
never doubts about his state perhaps may do so when it is too late. I knew a
man who said he never had a doubt for thirty years. I told him that I knew a
person who never had a doubt about him for thirty years. “How is that?” said
he, “that is strange.” He thought it a compliment. I said, “I knew a man who
never had a doubt about you for thirty years. He knew you were always the
most confounded hypocrite he ever met. He had no doubt about you.”

But this man had no doubt about himself–he was a chosenchild of God, a
greatfavorite of the MostHigh. He loved the doctrine of Election, wrote it on
his very brow. And yet he was the hardest driver and the most cruel oppressor
of the poor I ever met with and when brought to poverty himself, he might
very frequently be seenrolling through the streets. And this man had not a
doubt for thirty years. And yet the best people are always doubting.
Some of those who are just living outside the gates of Heaven are afraid of
being castinto Hell after all–while those people who are on the high road to
the pit are not the leastafraid. However, if you would get rid of your doubts
once more, turn to Christ. You know what Dr. Carey had put on his
tombstone–justthese words, for they were his comfort–
“A guilty, weak and helpless worm,
Into Christ’s arms I fall.
My Jesus and my All.”
Remember what that eminent Scotchdivine said when he was dying?
Someone saidto him, “What, are you dying now?” SaidHe, “I am just
gathering all my goodworks up togetherand I am throwing them all
overboard. And I am lashing myself to the plank of free grace and I hope to
swim to glory on it.” So do you. Every day keepyour eye only on Christ. And
so long as your eye is single, your whole body must and shall be full of light.
But if you once look cross-eyed, first to yourself and then to Christ, your
whole body shall be full of darkness. Remember, then, Christian, to fly to the
Cross. Whenthat greatblack dog of Hell is after you, awayto the Cross!Go
where the sheepgoes whenhe is molestedby the dog–go to the shepherd.
The dog is afraid of the shepherd’s crook. You need not be afraid of it, it is
one of the things that shall comfort you. “Your rod and Your staff they
comfort me.” Away to the Cross, my Brothers and Sisters!Away to the Cross,
if you would get rid of your doubts. I am certain that if we lived more with
Jesus, were more like Jesus and trusted Jesus more, doubts and fears would
be very scarce andrare things. And we should have as little to complain of
them as the first emigrants in Australia had to complain of thistles. For they
found none there and none would have been there if they had not been carried
there. If we live simply by faith on the Cross of Christ, we live in a land where
there are no thistles. But if we will live on self, we shall have plenty of thistles
and thorns and briers and nettles growing there. “Theylookedunto Him and
were lightened.”
III. And now I invite you to a glorious scene–CHRIST’SRESURRECTION.
Come here and look at Him, as the old serpent bruises His heel!–

“He dies! the Friend of sinners dies,
And Salem’s daughters weep around.”
He was wrapped in His grave clothes and put into His grave and there He
slept three days and nights. And on the first day of the week, He, who could
not be held by the bands of death and whose fleshdid not see corruption,
neither did His soul abide in Hades–He arose from the dead.
In vain the bands that swaddledHim. He unfolded them by Himself and by
His own living powerwrapped them in perfect order and laid them in their
place. In vain the stone and the seal. The angel appearedand rolled awaythe
stone and the Saviorcame forth. In vain the guards and watchmen. Forin
terror they fled far awayand He rose the conqueror over death–the first fruits
of them that slept. By His own powerand might He came againto life.
I see among my congregationnot a few wearing the black weeds of sorrow.
You have lost, some of you, the dearestof your earthly relatives There are
others here, who, I doubt not, are under the constantfear of death. You are all
your lifetime subject to bondage because you are thinking upon the groans
and dying strife which fall upon men when they near the river Jordan. Come,
come, I beseechyou, you weeping and timid spirits, behold Jesus Christrisen!
For remember, this is a greatTruth–“Now is Christ risen from the dead and
become the first-fruits of them that slept.” And the verse of our song just
embodies it–
“What? Though our inbred sins require
Our flesh to see the dust,
Yet as the Lord our Savior rose,
So all His followers must.”
There, widow–weepno longerfor your husband, if He died in Jesus. See the
Master? He is risen from the dead–no specteris He. In the presence of His
disciples He eats a piece of broiled fish and part of an honeycomb. No spirit is
He. For He says, “Handle Me and see. A spirit has not flesh and bones as you
see I have.” That was a real resurrection. And learn then, Beloved, when you
weep, to restrain your sorrows. Foryour loved ones shall live again. Not only
shall their spirits live, but their bodies, too–
“Corruption, earth and worms,
Do but refine this flesh.
At the archangel’s sounding trump,
We put it on afresh.”
Oh, think not that the worm has eaten up your children, your friends, your
husband, your father, your agedparents–true, the worms seemto have

devoured them. Oh, what is the worm after all, but the filter through which
our poor filthy flesh must go? Forin the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump,
we shall be raisedincorruptible and the living shall be changed. You shall see
the eye that just now has been closedand you shall look on it again. You shall
againgrasp the hand that just now fell motionless at the side. You shall kiss
the lips that just now were clay-coldand white and you shall hear againthe
voice that is silent in the tomb. They shall live again. And you that fear death–
why fear to die? Jesus died before you and He passedthrough the iron gates
and as He passedthrough them before you, He will come and meet you. Jesus
who lives can–
“Make the dying bed
Feelsoft as downy pillows are.”
Why should you weep? Jesus rose from the dead–so shallyou. Be of good
cheerand confidence. You are not lost when you are put into the tomb. You
are but seedsownto ripen againstthe eternal harvest. Your spirit mounts to
God. Your body slumbers for awhile to be quickenedinto eternal life. It
cannot be quickened exceptit die. But when it dies it shall receive a new life. It
shall not be destroyed. “They lookedto Him and were lightened.” Oh, this is a
precious thing to look to–a risenSavior. I know of nothing that can lift our
spirits higher than a true view of the resurrectionof Jesus Christ from the
dead. We have not lost any friends then. They have gone before us. We shall
not die ourselves. We shall seemto die, but we shall begin to live. For it is
written–
“He lives to die. He dies to live;
He lives to die no more.”
May that be the lot of eachone of us!
IV. And with the greatestpossible brevity, I invite you to LOOK AT JESUS
CHRIST ASCENDING INTO HEAVEN. After forty days He takes His
disciples to the hill and while He discourses with them, on a sudden He
mounts upward. And He is separatedfrom them and a cloud receives Him
into Glory. Perhaps I may be alloweda little poeticallicense if I try to picture
that which occurredafter He ascendedinto the clouds. The angels came from
Heaven–
“Theybrought His chariot from on high,
To bear Him to His Throne
Clapped their triumphant wings and cried,
The glorious work is done.”

I doubt not, that with matchless triumph He ascendedthe hill of light and
went to the celestialcityand when He neared the portals of that great
metropolis of the universe, the angels shouted, “Lift up your heads, O you
gates. And be you lift up you everlasting doors.” And the bright spirits from
burning battlements, cried out, “Who is this King of Glory–who?” And the
answercame, “the Lord mighty in battle and the Lord of Hosts. He is the
King of Glory.”
And then both they upon the walls and they who walk with the chariots join
the song once more and with one mighty sea of music, beating its melodious
waves againstthe gates ofHeaven and forcing them open, the strain is heard,
“Lift up your heads, O you gates and be you lift up you everlasting doors, that
the King of Glory may come in”–and in He went. And at His feetthe angelic
hosts all casttheir crowns and forth came the blood-washedand met Him, not
casting roses atHis feet, as we do at the feet of conquerors in our streets, but
casting immortal flowers, imperishable wreaths of honor that never can
decay. While again, again, again, the heavens did ring with this melody, “Unto
Him that has loved us and washedus from our sins in His blood and has made
us kings and priests unto God and His Father–unto Him be glory forever and
ever. And all the saints and all the angels said, Amen.”
Now look here, Christians, here is your comfort–Jesus Christwon wrestling
with spiritual enemies, not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and
powers. You are at war today and maybe the enemy has thrust sore at you
and you have been ready to fall. It is a marvel to you that you have not turned
your back in the day of battle, for you have often feared lestyou should be
made to fly like a cowardfrom the field. But tremble not, your Masterwas
more than conqueror and so shall you be.
The day is coming when with splendor less than His, but yet the same in its
measure, you, too, shall pass the gates ofbliss. When you are dying, angels
shall meet you in mid-stream and when your blood is cooling with the cold
current, then shall your heart be warming with another stream–a streamof
light and heat from the greatfountain of all joy and you shall stand on the
other side of Jordan and angels shallmeet you clothed in their immaculate
garments. They shall attend you up the hill of light and they shall chant the
praise of Jesus and hail you as another trophy of His power.
And when you enter the gates ofHeaven, you shall be met by Christ, your
Master, who will say to you–“Welldone, goodand faithful servant, enter into
the joy of your Lord.” Then will you feel that you are sharing in His victory,
as once you shared in His struggles and His war. Fight on, Christian–your
glorious Captain has won a greatvictory and has securedfor you in one and

the same victory a standard that never yet was stained with defeat–though
often dipped in the blood of the slain.
1. And now once more “Look unto Him and be lightened.” See, there He
sits in Heaven. He has led captivity captive and now sits at the right
hand of God, forever making intercessionforus. Can your faith picture
Him today? Like a greathigh priest of old, He stands with outstretched
arms–there is majesty in his manner–for He is no mean cringing
suppliant. He does not beat His breast, nor castHis eyes upon the
ground–but with authority He pleads enthroned in glory now.
There on His head is the bright shining miter of His priesthood. And look–on
His breastare glittering the precious stones whereonthe names of His elect
are everlastinglyengraved. Hear Him as He pleads, hear you not what it is?–is
that your prayer that He is mentioning before the Throne? The prayer that
this morning you offeredbefore you came to the House of God, Christ is now
offering before His Father’s Throne. The vow which just now you uttered
when you said, “Have pity and have mercy”–He is now uttering there.
He is the Altar and the Priestand with His own sacrifice He perfumes our
prayers. And yet, maybe, you have been at prayer many a day and had no
answer. Poorweeping Suppliant, you have sought the Lord and He has not
heard you, or at leastnot answeredyou to your soul’s delight. You have cried
unto Him, but the heavens have been as brass and He has shut out your
prayer. You are full of darkness and heaviness onaccountof this, “Look to
Him and be lightened.”
If you do not succeed, He will. If your intercessionis unnoticed, His cannotbe
passedaway. If your prayers can be like water spilt on a rock which cannot be
gatheredup, yet His prayers are not like that–He is God’s Son–He pleads and
must prevail. God cannot refuse His own Son what He now asks–He who once
bought mercies with His blood. Oh, be of goodcheer, continue still your
supplication. “Look unto Him and be lightened.”
VI. In the last place, there are some of you here weary with this world’s din
and clamorand with this world’s iniquity and vice. You have been striving all
your life long to put an end to the reign of sin and it seems as if your efforts
have been fruitless. The pillars of Hell stand as fastas ever and the black
palace of evil is not laid in ruins. You have brought againstit all the battering
rams of prayer and the might of God, you have thought–and yet the world still
sins, its rivers still roll with blood, its plains are still defiled with the lascivious
dance and its ear is still polluted with the filthy song and profane oath.

God is not honored. Man is still vile. And perhaps you are saying, “It is vain
for us to fight on, we have undertaken a task which cannot be accomplished.
The kingdoms of this world never can become the kingdoms of our Lord and
of His Christ.” But, Christian, “Look unto Him and be lightened.” Lo, He
comes, He comes, He comes quickly. And what we cannotdo in six thousand
years, He can do in an instant. Lo, He comes, He comes to reign. We may try
to build His Throne, but we shall not accomplishit.
But when He comes, He shall build His Throne Himself, on solid pillars of
light, and sit and judge in Jerusalem, amidst His saints gloriously. Perhaps
today, the hour we are assembled, Christmay come–“Forofthat day and
hour knows no man. No, not the angels in Heaven.” Christ Jesus may, while I
yet speak, appearin the clouds of glory. We have no reasonto be guessing at
the time of His appearing. He will come as a thief in the night. And whether it
shall be at cock-crowing, orbroad day, or at midnight, we are not allowedto
guess.
It is left entirely in the dark, and vain are the prophecies of men, vain your
“Apocalyptic Sketches,”ornonsense like that. No man knows anything of it,
exceptthat it is certainHe will come. But when He comes, no spirit in Heaven
or on earth should pretend to know. Oh, it is my joyous hope that He may
come while yet I live. Perhaps there may be some of us here who shall be alive
and remain at the coming of the Son of Man. Oh, glorious hope! We shall have
to sleep, but we shall all be changed. He may come now and we that are alive
and remain shall be caught up togetherwith the Lord in the air and so shall
be forever with Him.
But if you die, Christian, this is your hope–“Iwill come againand receive you
to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” And this is to be your
duty, “Watch, therefore, for in such an hour as you think not, the Sonof Man
comes.” Oh, will I not work on, for Christ is at the door! Oh, I will not give up
toiling everso hard, for my Mastercomes and His reward is with Him and
His work before Him, giving unto every man according as his work shall be.
Oh, I will not lie down in despair, for the trump is sounding now. Methinks I
hear the trampling of the conquering legion, the last of God’s mighty heroes
are even now, perhaps, born into the world.
The hour of this revival is the hour of the turning of the battle. Thick has been
the fight and hot and furious the struggle, but the trump of the Conqueror is
beginning to sound, the angel is lifting it now to his lips. The first blast has
been heard across the sea and we shall hear it yet again. Or if we hear it not in
these our days, yet still it is our hope. He comes, He comes and every eye shall
see Him and they that have crucified Him shall weepand wail before Him, but

the righteous shall rejoice and shall magnify Him exceedingly. “Theylooked
unto Him and were lightened.”
I remember I concluded preaching at ExeterHall with these three words,
“Jesus, Jesus,Jesus!” and I think I will conclude my sermon of this morning
with the same words, but not till I have spokento one poor forlorn soul who is
standing over there, wondering whether there is mercy for him. He says, “It is
well enough, Sir, to say, ‘Look to Jesus,’but suppose you cannot look? If your
eyes are blind–what then?” Oh, my poor Brother, turn your restless eyeballs
to the Cross and that light which gives light to them that see, shall give
eyesightto them that are blind. Oh, if you cannot believe this morning, look
and considerand weighthe matter and in weighing and reflecting you shall be
helped to believe.
He asks nothing of you. He bids you now believe that He died for you. If today
you feelyourself a lost, guilty sinner, all He asks is that you would believe on
Him. That is to say, trust Him, confide in Him. Is it not little He asks? And yet
it is more than any of us are prepared to give, except the Spirit has made us
willing. Come, castyourselves upon Him. Fallflat on His Promise. Sink or
swim, confide in Him and you cannot guess the joy that you shall feel in that
one instant that you believe on Him.
Were there not some of you impressed lastSabbath Day and you have been
anxious all the week? Oh, I hope I have brought a goodmessageto you this
morning for your comfort. “Look unto Me and be you saved, all the ends of
the earth,” says Christ, “for I am God and beside Me there is none else.” Look
now and looking you shall live. May every blessing rest upon you and may
eachgo awayto think of that one Personwhom we love, even Jesus–Jesus–
Jesus!Adapted from The C. H. Spurgeon Collection, Version1.0, Ages
Software, 1.800.297.4307
Psalms 34:5
They looked to him, and werelightened
That is, "the humble" ones, ( Psalms 34:2 ) ; and so this is a reasonwhy they
should join in praising and magnifying the Lord; these "looked" up to God in
prayer and by faith, when in distressedand uncomfortable circumstances, for
help and deliverance, and a supply of every needful goodthing; and they were
"enlightened";so the Targum renders it, "their faces were enlightened";as
Jarchiand Aben Ezra interpret it, in oppositionto what follows:they must
have been enlightened before they could look, but by looking to the Lord more

light was gained: this chiefly designs the light of joy, peace, andcomfort,
which is had in a wayof believing: some render the word "and flowed" F12
, as
a river does, that is, to the Lord, as in ( Jeremiah 31:12 ) . So Kimchi and Ben
Melechexplain the word; and it denotes both the numbers of them that looked
up to the Lord in their distress, and the swiftness oftheir motion to him, and
their earnestnessand fervour of mind; so faith is not only a looking to Christ,
but a going forth unto him;
and their faces were not ashamed;
having what they prayed and lookedfor, and what they hoped and believed
they should have; namely, deliverance and salvation, and so peace and
pleasure.
FOOTNOTES:
F12 (wdhnw) "et confluunt", Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis;"et instar fluvii
irruerint", Piscator, Amama; "et confluxerunt", Gejerus.
Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. All rights reserved. Article Images
Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated.
Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs:The MasterMusician’s Melodies
Bereans Sunday SchoolPlacerita BaptistChurch 2004
by William D. Barrick, Th.D. ProfessorofOT, The Master’s Seminary
Psalm34 — Tasting the GoodnessofGod
1.0 Introducing Psalm 34
n Fourteenpsalms contain a heading that refers to incidents in David’s life:
Psalms 3, 7, 18, 30, 34, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59, 60, 63, 142. n The background for
Psalm34 is found in 1 Samuel21:10-15. See Psalm56, also. n Psalm34 is the
third acrostic psalmin the Psalter(see Psalm9 and 25). Its alphabetic pattern
is identical to Psalm 25’s pattern. n New Testamentwriters cite Psalm 34 in
John 19:36 (Ps 34:20)and 1 Peter3:10-12 (Ps 34:12-16). 4 “A substantial
quotation and some distinct further echoes ofthe psalm in 1 Peter2 and 3
(and in other Epistles) illustrate the indebtedness of every generationto this
psalm.”—DerekKidner, Psalms 1–72, Tyndale Old TestamentCommentaries
(Downers Grove, Ill.: Inter-Varsity Press, 1973), 138. 4 See Hebrews 6:5 and 1

Peter2:3. n Psalm 34 was often associatedwith the Lord’s Supper in the early
church.
2.0 Reading Psalm 34 (NAU)
A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him
awayand he departed.
34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in
my mouth. 34:2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD;The humble will
hear it and rejoice. 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us
exalt His name together.
a b g
Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Barrick, Placerita BaptistChurch 2004
2
34:4 I soughtthe LORD, and He answeredme, And delivered me from all
my fears. 34:5 They lookedto Him and were radiant, And their faces will
never be ashamed. 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And
savedhim out of all his troubles. 34:7 The angelof the LORD encamps
around those who fear Him, And rescues them.
34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good;How blessedis the man who
takes refuge in Him! 34:9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; Forto those who
fear Him there is no want. 34:10 The young lions do lack and
suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good
thing.
34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teachyou the fear of the LORD.
34:12 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days
that he may see good? 34:13 Keepyour tongue from evil And your lips
from speaking deceit. 34:14 Departfrom evil and do good;Seek
peace and pursue it.
34:15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears
are open to their cry. 34:16 The face of the LORD is againstevildoers, To cut
off the memory of them from the earth. 34:17 The righteous cry, and the
LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. 34:18 The LORD is
near to the brokenheartedAnd saves those who are crushed in spirit.
34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him
out of them all. 34:20 He keeps allhis bones, Not one of them is broken. 34:21
Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be

condemned. 34:22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of
those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
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3.0 Understanding Psalm34 3.1 Outline I. Extolling God (vv. 1-3) II.
Experiencing Deliverance (vv. 4-7) III. Exhorting Godliness (vv. 8-14)IV.
Encouraging the Righteous (vv.15-22)
3.2 Notes l Heading: “Abimelech” n In 1 Samuel 21:10-15 the king’s name is
Achish. Why the difference? ü Many Old Testamentmen had more than one
name (Jerubbaal = Gideon in Judg 6:32, Jedidiah = Solomonin 2 Sam 12:25,
Mattaniah = Zedekiahin 2 Kgs 24:17), so two names would not be unusual. ü
Some names were dynastic names (e.g., Darius, Caesar, Pharaoh). Abimelech
is also the name of the Philistine kings in Genesis 20:2 and 26:1. This is
evidence that Abimelech (= “my father is king”)was a dynastic name. Achish
would be the personal name of the king of Gath at the time of these events.
l v. 4 “allmy fears” n Fearfulness is an enemy of the believer. David’s fears
came as a result of traumatic experiences in the court of King Saul, his life as
a fugitive from Saul, and the unknown future that he faced. n The particular
Hebrew word used for “fears” occurs only here, Isaiah 66:4 (“dread”)and
Proverbs 10:24. However, a closelyrelatedterm is used in Psalm31:13 and
five times in Jeremiahin the phrase “terror on every side” (Jer 6:25; 20:3
[“Magor-missabib”], 10;46:5; 49:29).
l v. 5 “Theylookedto Him and were radiant” n “In addition to his personal
experience, he has witnessedhow God’s saints radiate confidence and joy (v.
5; cf. Isa 60:5). They, too, lookedfor the light of his countenance and were
blessedwith the abundance of his goodnessand blessing (27:1, 4). Fear,

terror, gloom, and shame have no place as they give way to radiance!”—
Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,”in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed.
by Frank E. Gaebelein(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House,
1991), 5:283.
l v. 6 “This poor man cried” n The psalmist is most likely speaking of himself
autobiographically. n This is David’s own testimony.
4
l v. 7 “The angelof the LORD” n This person is mentioned only here and
35:5-6 in Psalms. n The title most likely refers to the SecondPersonof the
Godheadas in Genesis 16:7-14 andJudges 6:11-23.
l v. 8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good” n “Taste”= find out by
experience. n This is not a casualsampling, which might be implied by the
English translation.
l v. 10 “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger” n “Ofall the beasts [in an
Israelite’s generalknowledge—WDB], the lion is the most powerful and least
likely to lack prey and go hungry. And among the lions, though old lions may
lack prey, young lions are active and successfulas hunters (cf. Job 4:10-11).
The young lions thus symbolize the essenceofself-sufficiencyin the provision
of physical needs.”—PeterC. Craigie, Psalms 1–50, WordBiblical
Commentary (Waco, Tex.:Word Books, Publisher, 1983), 280.
l v. 11 “Come, you children, listen to me” n The address is typical of wisdom
literature in the Old Testament. Ø Proverbs 4:1; 5:7; 7:24; 8:32 Ø The subject
of instruction is “the fear of the LORD” (see Prov1:7; 8:13).
l v. 20 “He keeps allhis bones, Not one of them is broken.” n Some
interpreters understand this as a reference to the Lord’s care of His own
people (e.g., VanGemeren), rather than a Messianic reference. nFor the
Messianic view, compare Exodus 12:46 and John 19:33-36.
l v. 22 “none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned” n Compare
Romans 8:1, 33-34.
4.0 Singing Psalm34
When I Look Into Your Holiness (Psalm34:5) When I look into Your
holiness, When I gaze into Your loveliness, Whenall things that surround
become shadows in the light of You. When I’ve found the joy of reaching
Your heart, When my will becomes enthronedin Your love, When all things
that surround become shadows in the light of You.

5
I worship You, I worship You; The reasonI live is to worship You. I worship
You, I worship You; The reasonI live is to worship You. — Wayne and Cathy
Perrin © 1980 Integrity’s Hosanna!Music
Ye Children, Come, Give Ear to Me (Psalm 34:11-22)Ye children, come, give
ear to me And learn Jehovah’s fear, He who would long and happy live, Let
him my counselhear. Restrainthy lips from speaking guile, From wicked
speechdepart, From evil turn and do the good, Seek peace withall thy heart.
Jehovah’s eyes are on the just, He hearkens to their cry; Against the wicked
sets His face;Their very name shall die. He hears the righteous when they cry,
From trouble sets them free; He saves the broken hearted ones And those who
contrite be. The Lord may suffer many griefs Upon the just to fall, But He will
bring them safely through; Delivering them from all. By evil are the evil slain,
And they that hate the just; But all His servants God redeems, And safe in
Him they trust. — Words:The Psalter(1912)Music:Henry W. Greatorex
(1851)
6
5.0 Praying Psalm34
• Lord, we exalt and glorify You. [v. 3] • Thank You for saving me out of all
my troubles this week. [v. 6] • Teachme how to fear You the way You have
commanded. [v. 11]• Father, give me a cleanmouth with pure and honest
speech. [v. 13] • Lord, help me to endure my afflictions and to trust You to do
what is best for me. [vv. 19 and 8]
• •
6.0 Applying Psalm 34
Ø Rather than relying on our own cunning, we need to trust God for our
deliverance.
Ø To truly experience God’s goodnesswe must have a corresponding
godliness.
Ø Being a believerdoes not mean a trouble-free life.

STEVEN COLE
Enjoying God and His Blessings
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A question that I often ask those who come to me for counselis, “Do you want
God’s blessing in your life?” On the surface, it sounds like a no-brainer.
“Duh! Of course I want God’s blessing in my life! Do you think I’m stupid, or
what?” But answering yes to that question commits you to an often-difficult
way of life. God does not bless those that ignore His commandments and live
to please themselves. He blesses those thatfear Him and walk in His ways,
turning from their sins. Now, do you reallywant God’s blessing in your life?
David did. In spite of his many failures and sometimes flagrantsins, he kept
coming back to the Lord, repenting of his sins, and seeking Godas his chief
joy and treasure. David wasn’t just, as so many do, trying to milk God for His
blessings, but continuing to live for his own selfish ends. Rather, David saw
God Himself as the supreme blessing. He would agree with what Asaph wrote
(Ps. 73:25), “Whom have I in heavenbut You? And besides You, I desire
nothing on earth.” In Psalm34, David tells us how to enjoy God and His
blessings:
To enjoy God and His blessings, seekHim for salvation, fear Him, and walk in
His ways.

Psalm34 is an acrostic, with eachverse beginning with a successive letterof
the Hebrew alphabet. Interestingly, as in Psalm25, one letter (vav) is missing
and the final verse interrupts the sequence, thus making it stand out for
emphasis. As with all acrostics, the outline is not as clearas in some other
psalms. Derek Kidner (Psalms1-72 [IVP], pp. 138, 140)outlines it broadly as,
“Rejoicewith me” (vv. 1-10)and “Learn from me” (vv. 11-22). The first
sectionis David’s testimony; the secondsectionis his teaching. Addressing his
audience as “children” (34:11) was a common way for Hebrew teachers to
address their pupils.
The psalm comes out of an embarrassing incident in David’s life. He was
running from King Saul, who was seeking to kill him. He came famished to
Ahimelech the priest, who gave him and his men the consecratedbread. David
also took Goliath’s sword, which had been stored at the Tabernacle. An
informant told Saul where David was at, so he had to flee again. This time,
perhaps in panic, he fled from Israeli territory and went to Achish, the
Philistine king of Gath. It’s rather bizarre, because Gathwas the hometown of
Goliath, whom David had killed! So here is David, carrying Goliath’s sword
(which could hardly be camouflaged!), showing up in Goliath’s town! Achish,
by the way, is referred to in the Psalminscription as Abimelech, which was a
dynastic title for Philistine kings (it means, “my father is king”), much as
Pharaohwas a title for Egyptian kings.
David wasn’t long in Gath before the servants of Achish said, “Isn’t this
David, of whom the Israelis sing, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his
ten thousands?’” (See 1 Sam. 21:11.)So, fearing that he had jumped from the
frying pan into the fire, David panicked. He decided to actlike an insane man,
scribbling on the city gate and drooling into his beard. Achish fell for the ruse.
He sarcasticallyaskedhis men (1 Sam. 21:15), “Do I lack madmen, that you
have brought this one into my presence?”And so by his deception, David was
enabled to escape. Buthis acting like a madman had dishonored God in front
of these pagans.
But then he wrote this psalm, praising God for his deliverance and denouncing
deception(Ps. 34:13). What’s going on here? It seems that in reflecting back
later on this close escape from death, David realized that in spite of his failure,
God had been gracious in rescuing him anyway. True, David had been in a
very tight spot, but that did not justify his deception. He actually continued
this pattern of deceptionwith Achish, convincing him that he was raiding
Israelivillages, when he actuallywas slaughtering off the inhabitants of the
land (1 Sam. 27:8-12). This almost resulted in David’s being forced to go into
battle with the Philistines againsthis own countrymen. It also resultedin the

capture of David’s and his men’s wives and property, so that his own men
were talking of stoning him (1 Sam. 30:6).
So sometime after David recoveredfrom all of these difficult trials causedby
his ownpanic and deception, he penned Psalm34. He realizes now that
deceptionand evil are not the wayto the goodlife. Rather, seeking Godfor
deliverance, fearing Him, and walking in His ways are the way to enjoy God
and His blessings.
Even some conservative commentators have said that the psalm does not bear
any resemblance to the circumstances alludedto in the title. But there are
connections that can be made. In verses 4-6 David alludes to the extreme
danger that he was in. Some may ask, “How canhe say that he cried out to the
Lord for deliverance when he was using deception to getout of this jam?” The
answeris that he did both. It is rare, especiallyfor younger believers, to be
completely pure in our methods, especiallywhen we’re in a sudden crisis. So
the psalm is a testimony to God’s grace in bearing with our weaknesses. This
does not justify our sin, but it does magnify God’s grace towards his weak
children.
Further allusions to David’s situation include verse 7, which pictures the angel
of the Lord guarding David’s camp at the cave of Adullam, where he fled
from Achish. Verse 10 refers to the lions that inhabited the area. Some
commentators take this as a poetic reference to powerful, rapacious human
leaders. But it would be natural for David to refer to the hungry lions that he
saw around him, contrasting them with God’s care for him and his men.
Verses 13 and 18 reflectDavid’s later repentance as he thought back on his
panickeduse of deception. And, verse 20 reflects David’s safe escape fromthe
Philistines. He was probably handled roughly, but he gotawaywith no broken
bones.
We candraw four practical lessons fromthis psalm:
1. The life that God blesses is not free from extreme trials.
This is a psalm about close escapesfrom death. We see this in the psalm title.
It is also evident in verses 6 & 7 and 17 & 19. Verse 19 states plainly, “Many
are the afflictions of the righteous….” I bring this up because I often
encounter Christians who think, “I trusted in Christ as my Saviorand I’m
trying to follow Him. So why am I having all of these trials?” They mistakenly
think that following Christ means that He puts a protective shield around you,
so that trials just glance off. But Paul told the young converts in the churches
he founded (Acts 14:22), “Throughmany tribulations we must enter the
kingdom of God.” Peter wrote to a suffering church (1 Pet. 4:12), “Beloved, do

not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for
your testing, as if some strange thing were happening to you.” Note three
things:
A. Some trials are due to our own sins and shortcomings.
We have alreadyseenthis with David. He may have fled to Achish in panic
without pausing to seek the Lord. His later trials when his and his men’s
families and possessions were takenwere a direct result of his wrongful
thinking that he would perish at the hand of Saul (1 Sam. 27:1). Later, David
watchedhis ownfamily fall apart and his kingdom go through Absalom’s
rebellion as the consequence ofhis sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12). He also
saw many in his kingdom die as a direct consequence ofhis sin in numbering
the people (2 Sam. 24:10-17).
The important lessonis to learn how to respond when God brings into your
life these consequences foryour sins. It’s easyto minimize your own
responsibility for the sins by blaming others or by excusing yourself, and then
to get angry at God. You canthink, “What I did was no worse than what
everyone else does. Besides,if I hadn’t been provoked, I wouldn’t have done
this. So it’s not fair for God to discipline me when others do far worse and get
awaywith it.”
Or, you can humble yourself before God, as David did, with a brokenhearted,
contrite spirit (Ps. 34:18). You can submit to God’s dealings with you, as
difficult as they are (2 Sam. 16:5-13).
B. Some trials are due to the sins of others againstus.
David got into this jam with Achish and the Philistines because Saulwas
wrongly trying to kill him. David had done nothing to undermine Saul’s
authority or leadership. He had been loyal to Saul, serving him as a son. And
yet Saulwas insanely jealous of David and was trying to kill him.
Again, it is important how you respond when someone else has sinned against
you in a terrible way. Perhaps your father molestedyou. Or your parents may
have abused you verbally and physically. Or, a trusted friend betrayed you.
Or, you were sabotagedat work by unscrupulous co-workerswho gotyou
fired, even though you were a conscientious, hardworker. Do you take refuge
in the Lord and pray for those that wrongedyou? Do you recognize that if
God had not been gracious to you, you would be acting just as they actedor
worse? Whenwe’re sinned against, we need to be very careful not to sin in
reaction.

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