Psalm 34:11-22 ESV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:22

The Lord redeemeth - Both the life and soul of God's followers are ever in danger but God is continually redeeming both. Shall be desolate - Literally, shall be guilty. They shall be preserved from sin, and neither forfeit life nor soul. This verse probably should come in after the fifth. See the introduction to this Psalm. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:11

Verse 11 11.Come, children, (696) hearken unto me. The Psalmist continues, with increased earnestness, to exhort the faithful, that they may know that nothing can be more profitable for them than to conduct themselves justly and harmlessly towards all men. As the greater part of men imagine that the best and the shortest way to attain a life of happiness and ease consists in striving to surpass other men in violence, fraud, injustice, and other means of mischief, it is necessary frequently to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:12

Verse 12 12.Who is the man who desireth life? The prophet does not inquire if there be any man so disposed, as if all men voluntarily brought upon themselves the miseries which befall them; for we know that all men without exception desire to live in the enjoyment of happiness. But he censures severely the blindness and folly which men exhibit in the frowardness of their desires, and the vanity of their endeavors to obtain happiness; for while all men are seeking, and eagerly intent upon... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:13

Verse 13 13.Keep thy tongue from evil The precept which David here delivers relates to a virtue which is very rare, namely, that we should be truthful and free from deceit in our discourse. Some, indeed, understand it in a much more extended sense, supposing that slander is condemned in this first clause. But it seems to me more simple, and more to the purpose, to understand this as of the same import with what he repeats in the second clause, that we should not speak deceitfully with our... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:14

Verse 14 14.Turn away from evil, and do good. Here the Psalmist commands the children of God to abstain from all evil, and to devote themselves to the work of doing good to their neighbors. This verse is generally quoted as if David here treated of the two parts of repentance. The first step in the work of repentance is, that the sinner forsake the vices to which he is addicted, and renounce his former manner of life; and the second, that he frame his behavior according to righteousness. But in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:15

Verse 15 15.The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous. The best support of our patience is a firm persuasion that God regards us, and that according as every man perseveres in a course of uprightness and equity, so shall he be preserved in peace and safety under his protection. In order, therefore, that the faithful may not think that they are exposed to the caprice of the world, while they are endeavoring to keep themselves innocent, and that they may not, under the influence of this fear, go... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:17

Verse 17 17.They (700) cried, and Jehovah heard them. The Psalmist’s meaning is, that they are heard as often as they cry. This is a doctrine applicable to all times; and David does not merely relate what God has done once or twice, but what he is accustomed to do. It is also a confirmation of the preceding sentence, where he had said that the ears of the Lord are open to the cry of the righteous; for he now demonstrates by the effect, that God is not deaf when we lay our complaints and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:18

Verse 18 18.Jehovah is nigh to those who are broken of heart. David here exemplifies and extends still more the preceding doctrine, that God is the deliverer of his people, even when they are brought very low, and when they are, as it were, half-dead. It is a very severe trial, when the grace of God is delayed, and all experience of it so far withdrawn, as that our spirits begin to fail; nay more, to say that God is nigh to the faithful, even when their hearts faint and fall them, and they are... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:19

Verse 19 19.Many are the afflictions of the righteous. The Psalmist here anticipates the thought which often arises in the mind, “How can it be that God has a care about the righteous, who are continually harassed with so many calamities and trials? for what purpose does the protection of God serve, unless those who are peaceably inclined enjoy peace and repose? and what is more unreasonable, than that those who cause trouble to no one should themselves be tormented and afflicted in all variety... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:21

Verse 21 21.But malice shall slay the wicked. The Hebrew word רעה,raäh, which I have translated malice, some would rather render misery, so that the meaning would be, that the ungodly shall perish miserably, because in the end they shall be overwhelmed with calamities. The other translation, however, is more expressive, namely, that their wickedness, with which they think themselves fortified, shall fall upon their own heads. As David therefore taught before, that there was no defense better... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 34:21

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