Psalm 34  David's psalms have one main theme and one purpose - to exalt the Lord! We are told that David wrote this psalm after he went to Abimelech for help and then pretended to be crazy so that he wouldn't be killed.  He was driven away.. and consequently wrote this hymn of praise.  

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."   David gave all the credit to the Lord .. for every escape, for every blessing, for every battle won, for every enemy conquered, and for every sin forgiven.  " O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together."  David calls for all to join him.. for all to know the greatness of God, to trust Him.. to serve Him.. to find refuge in Him alone. 

David offers to teach others the ways of the Lord.. "Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord."  And there is the secret of David's life - fearing the Lord.  David tells us that:

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him." v7

"O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him, there is no want."v9

David tells us what that looks like in verses 13-15 "Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ear open to their cry."  To fear the Lord is to revere Him.. to live according to His commands.. to order our steps in His ways.  It is a relationship that comes out of a correct understanding of Who God is.. The One who saves those who trust in Him, the One who judges those who turn from Him.. The One who delivers the "brokenhearted.. and the crushed".. but condemns the evil of the wicked. 

David pleads with his readers to have this right understanding and knowledge of God "O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

We all have to make this decision.  Will we trust in God, fear Him, obey Him, and find Him to be all that David has claimed?  Or will we continue to live in our own ways, with no fear or reverence for Him.. and be lost, condemned, and forever separated from the One who has made us?

Father in heaven,  You are good. You are worthy of all our praises.  We exalt Your Name above every other name.  We are thankful that You have redeemed us and made us Your own.  We thank You that we can call on You and You will answer.  We thank You for being our refuge and our strength.  May we live  for You, abiding in Jesus, the True vine.. as fruitful branches, to the glory of Your Name.  We commit ourselves into Your hands... each and every day!   May Your will be done! Amen.