Catholic Commentary on Psalm 34

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8)

The Acrostic of Praise

Psalm 34 is an acrostic psalm of thanksgiving, composed after David's escape from Abimelech. The superscription connects it to the episode in 1 Samuel 21 where David feigned madness before the Philistine king. From this specific deliverance David draws principles of universal application. He will bless the Lord at all times, not just in the moments of obvious rescue. His praise will always be on his lips. I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. The personal testimony becomes teaching: not just what happened to David, but what is available to all who seek the Lord.

The famous invitation in verse 8 is one of the most quoted verses from the Psalms: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. The image of taste is significant: the goodness of God is not to be argued into but experienced. It bypasses the mind's resistance and engages the whole person. The Eucharist has always been read through this verse: the Church at Mass literally tastes the goodness of the Lord in the Body and Blood of Christ. The bread on the tongue, the cup on the lips: this is the tasting of Psalm 34.

The Righteous and Their Troubles

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. This is not a promise that the righteous will avoid trouble. It is a promise about the outcome of trouble. The Lord who rescued David from a desperate situation rescues his people from all their troubles, not by preventing trouble but by accompanying through it and delivering from it. The guardian of bones: not one of them is broken. The Lord redeems his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, when did you last taste the goodness of God? Not intellectually acknowledge it, but actually experience it, in prayer, in the Eucharist, in a moment of grace that surprised you? Psalm 34 commissions the seeking of these moments and the sharing of them: come, my children, listen to me. The community of faith is built on the shared testimony of taste and see.

Prayer

Lord God, I will bless you at all times; your praise will always be on my lips. I sought you and you answered me; you delivered me from my fears. Let me taste and see your goodness. Deliver me from all my troubles, and let me share what I have tasted with those around me. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

34
Taste and See That the LORD Is Good
(1 Samuel 21:8–15)
Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech,* 34:0 Abimelech is another name for Achish; see 1 Samuel 21–29 and 1 Kings 2:39. so that the king drove him away.† 34:0 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
 
1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul boasts in the LORD;
let the oppressed hear and rejoice.
3 Magnify the LORD with me;
let us exalt His name together.
 
4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to Him are radiant with joy;
their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him;
He saved him from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
and he delivers them.
 
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 Fear the LORD, you His saints,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.
10 Young lions go lacking and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
 
12 Who is the man who delights in life,
who desires to see good days?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and His ears are inclined to their cry.‡ 34:15 LXX to their prayer
16 But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,§ 34:16 Cited in 1 Peter 3:10–12
to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
 
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears;
He delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted;
He saves the contrite in spirit.
 
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him from them all.
20 He protects all his bones;
not one of them will be broken.* 34:20 Cited in John 19:36
 
21 Evil will slay the wicked,
and the haters of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems His servants,
and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

*^ 34:0 Abimelech is another name for Achish; see 1 Samuel 21–29 and 1 Kings 2:39.

†^ 34:0 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

‡34:15 34:15 LXX to their prayer

§34:16 34:16 Cited in 1 Peter 3:10–12

*34:20 34:20 Cited in John 19:36

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