Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 34:2
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.
2. In the Lord stands emphatically at the beginning of the sentence in the original; in Him, and not in any of the worldling’s objects of self-congratulation (Psa 49:6; Jer 9:23-24), shall be my boast.
the humble &c.] Probably, let the humble (or, meek) hear and be glad. Cp. Psa 5:11. He claims the sympathy of those who have learned humility in the school of suffering. See note on Psa 9:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord – I myself will rejoice and exult in him. The word boast here refers to that on which a man would value himself; that which would be most prominent in his mind when he endeavored to call to remembrance what he could reflect on with most pleasure. The psalmist here says that when He did this, it would not be wealth or strength to which he would refer; it would not be his rank or position in society; it would not be what he had done, nor what he had gained, as pertaining to this life. His joy would spring from the fact that there was a God; that he was such a God, and that he could regard him as His God. This would be his chief distinction – that on which he would value himself most. Of all the things that we can possess in this world, the crowning distinction is, that we have a God, and that he is such a being as he is.
The humble shall hear thereof – The poor; the afflicted; those who are in the lower walks of life. They should hear that he put his trust in God, and they should find joy in being thus directed to God as their portion and their hope. The psalmist seems to have referred here to that class particularly, because:
(a) they would be more likely to appreciate this than those of more elevated rank, or than those who had never known affliction; and
(b) because this would be specially fitted to impart to them support and consolation, as derived from his own experience.
He had been in trouble. He had been encompassed with dangers. He had been mercifully protected and delivered. He was about to state how it had been done. He was sure that they who were in the circumstances in which he had been would welcome the truths which he was about to state, and would rejoice that there might be deliverance for them also, and that they too might find God a protector and a friend. Calamity, danger, poverty, trial, are often of eminent advantage in preparing the mind to appreciate the nature, and to prize the lessons of religion.
And be glad – Rejoice in the story of my deliverance, since it will lead them to see that they also may find deliverance in the day of trial.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 34:2
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.
Rightful boasting
We all are prone to boast, and often on very slender grounds. The worst are they who boast of their own goodness. We are to glory only in the Lord. Now such rightful boasting includes the elevation of joyous feeling, and the breaking forth of gratitude and praise. And the humble shall hear thereof. Others would tell them, or, if not, the psalmist himself would. Spiritual sadness seeks seclusion, but not so spiritual freedom and joy. Like the return of health and of day, it says to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. And the effect of this knowledge would be to make them glad. The Lords followers are supposed to be mopish and melancholy; but they have a thousand sources of joy which others know not of. (W. Jay.)
On glorying in God alone
What can better become us, who are the creatures of God, than to bless Him, and depend on Him? What can better become us, as Christians, than to be always praising add magnifying that God, to whose grace we owe our salvation and happiness?
I. the examples of excellent persons (Jer 9:23-24; 1Co 1:29-31). St. Paul himself was an eminent example of his own doctrine; for when, to vindicate himself, he found himself obliged to recount what he had done and suffered in the cause of Christianity, together with his endowments, graces and privileges, he begs pardon for it, calls it the foolishness of boasting, and as nothing less could excuse it, he pleads necessity for it (2Co 11:20). But this apostle, who was thus shy of glorying in his excellencies and advantages, lest he should seem too tender of his own honour, how forward he is to record his infirmities, that he might advance Gods (2Co 12:9). We cannot be Christians unless God be all in all to us; unless we look upon Him as the source and spring of all good, the object of our joy and glory, and the ultimate end of our desires and hopes.
II. we have received all from him. Whether natural endowments, or worldly possessions, all that we are born to, and all that we acquire, judgment, courage, wit, eloquence, wealth, power, favour, and the like, we certainly owe to God. And if we derive all from God, acknowledgment and praise is the least sacrifice we can make Him.
III. We depend so entirely upon God, that we can reap little benefit, nay, we may suffer much prejudice by the most excellent endowments and possessions, unless they be sanctified by his grace, and befriended by his providence (Ecc 9:11). How naturally do riches breed luxury! power tyranny! honour insolence! favour and applause vanity!
IV. To boast in anything but God is a symptom of extreme profaneness and irreligion; for whence can this proceed, but from an understanding darkened by ignorance or infidelity, or from a heart alienated from God, and possessed by some vile idol?
V. The heathen thought that there was an envious daemon, whose peculiar province it was to cast down the vainglorious and insolent; but we Christians are taught that to humble the proud is a work that god delights in (Isa 2:12; Jam 4:6). And why does God take pleasure in this? To assert His sovereignty and dominion, to imprint an awe of His power upon the minds of mankind, and to extort from the proudest and vainest of mortals a confession of their meanness and His majesty.
VI. marks by which we may examine ourselves in reference to this matter.
1. If we have grateful hearts towards God, we shall let slip no occasion which invites us to praise and honour Him. Not only those things that are new and surprising, that are unusual or extraordinary, but also the common and ordinary works of God, and His constant and daily benefits, will affect our hearts with a devout and thankful remembrance of Him.
2. If we truly glory in the Lord, and in nothing else, our admiration and reverence, our love and gratitude will discover themselves, not only in our words, but in our actions. The principle which causes us to be humble and thankful towards God, will keep us from being disrespectful and insolent towards man; and, in general, we shall think it our duty, not only to glorify God by praise and thanksgiving, but also and especially by a right use and employment of His benefits and mercies.
3. The practice of this duty does by degrees advance us to a settled state of pleasure. What can be more delightful than the exercise of love, when the object of it is most perfect? (Psa 63:4-6). (R. Lucas, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. My soul shall make her boast] Shall set itself to praise the Lord-shall consider this its chief work.
The humble] anavim, the afflicted, such as David had been.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
My soul shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a Lord and Master. The
humble; or, the meek, i.e. the godly, oft called in Scripture by that title; and particularly my friends and favourers in Israel, whom he thus calls in opposition to his proud and furious adversaries in Sauls court and camp.
Be glad; both for their love to me and to the public good of Israel, which they know that I design and seek above all things; and for the comfort and benefit of my example to them in like straits and difficulties.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. make her boast“glory”(Ps 105:3; compare Ga6:14).
humble“thepious,” as in Psa 9:12;Psa 25:9.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord,…. Not in men, nor in any outward enjoyment, nor in any works of righteousness, but in the Lord; “in the Word of the Lord”, as the Targum; in the Lord Jesus Christ; in his wisdom, strength, riches, righteousness, redemption, and salvation; in interest in him, and communion with him: and this is not tongue but soul boasting; and not flashy and selfish, but solid, spiritual, and hearty; and with all the powers and faculties of the soul; see 1Co 1:29;
the humble shall hear [thereof]; either of the deliverance the psalmist had out of the hands of his enemies; or of his blessing and praising the Lord for the same, and making his boast in him as the God of his salvation; or of both: of these humble ones, [See comments on Ps 10:12];
and be glad; for such rejoice with them that rejoice, and are glad at heart that others share in the goodness and grace of God; and also because by such an instance of the divine power and kindness they are encouraged to hope that he will, in his own time, deliver them out of their afflictions and distresses also.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah. The term soul in this place signifies not the vital spirit, but the seat of the affections; as if David had said, I shall always have ground of boasting with my whole heart in God alone, so that I shall never suffer myself to fall into forgetfulness of so great a deliverance. In the second clause he specifies this as the fruit of his thanksgiving, that the afflicted and miserable shall derive from it ground of hope. The Hebrew word ענוים, anavim, which we have rendered humble, signifies not all the afflicted (689) in general, but those who, being humbled and subdued by afflictions, instead of breathing the spirit of pride, are cast down, and ready to abase themselves to the very dust. These, he says, shall be partakers of his joy; but not, as some have coldly explained it, simply from a feeling of sympathy, but because, being persuaded that in the example of David, God had given them a general testimony of his grace, their hearts would recover from sorrow, and would be lifted up on high. Accordingly, he says that this joy shall spring from hope, because, having received a pledge of their deliverance, they shall cheerfully have recourse to God.
(689) The word ענוים, anavim, may also be rendered the afflicted. Our author in his exposition combines both the ideas of humble and afflicted.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Humble.See Note on Psa. 9:12. The LXX.
and Vulg., the meek. It means here those who have learnt patience in the school of suffering.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Boast in the Lord The word rendered “boast,” means to shine, to make clear, and also to exclaim aloud. It is commonly the word for praise.
To “boast in the Lord,” is to proclaim aloud his acts towards us, giving him the honour of our deliverances.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 550
DEVOTION EXEMPLIFIED
Psa 34:2-3. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
A SENSE of gratitude to God for his mercies will ever abide in some measure on the soul of a true believer. But there are special occasions whereon he is so impressed with the Divine goodness, that he feels as if he never could forget it, and as if he would have the whole creation join with him in his devout acknowledgments. This was the frame of Davids mind, when, by feigning himself mad, he had escaped out of the hands of Achish, who would probably have put him to death, or delivered him into the hands of Saul, his blood-thirsty persecutor [Note: Compare 1Sa 21:10 to 1Sa 22:1. with the title of this psalm.].
In discoursing on his words, we shall notice,
I.
His determination to praise God
Ungodly men love to boast of themselves
[There is no man who has not some imaginary excellencies whereof to boast. If we possess any natural endowment either of mind or body, we are forward to bring it into notice, and to arrogate something to ourselves on account of it. One values herself upon her beauty; another boasts of his strength or courage; another prides himself in his wit, his penetration, or his judgment. Rather than pass unnoticed, the ungodly will boast of their iniquities and excesses; yea, (strange to say!) of iniquities they have not committed, and of excesses to which they have never arrived.]
The godly, on the other hand, make their boast in the Lord
[They know, by bitter experience, that in themselves dwelleth no good thing, yea, nothing but what furnishes matter for the deepest humiliation. But they see in God sufficient to excite their devoutest adoration. Whether they contemplate the perfections of his nature, or the works of his hands, the wonders of his providence, or the riches of his grace, they are filled with wonder and astonishment; and, pouring contempt on all created excellencies, they exclaim, O God! who is like unto thee [Note: Deu 32:31. Exo 15:11. Mic 7:18.]? Thanks be to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ [Note: 2Co 2:14.]!]
The Psalmist was the more induced to praise God in a public manner, from a consideration of
II.
The effect he hoped to produce by this means
He did not expect any particular benefit to accrue to the proud
[The proud, alas! are disgusted with even the mention of Gods name, provided it be with reverence and love: nor do they ever speak of him themselves, unless it be to profane his name in oaths and curses. Their aversion to hear of him increases according to the degree in which he is honoured. They will suffer us to speak somewhat of God as he is manifested in creation; but they do not like to be told of his love in redemption. They will bear to hear a little of God (though but little) in his works of providence; but they cannot endure to hear one syllable of his gloriously rich and sovereign grace. If we utter but a word expressive of admiration and love on account of his condescension in revealing himself to our souls, we forfeit at once all title to respectability, and become in their eyes the most contemptible of beings. They would be less offended with oaths and blasphemies and the grossest obscenity, than with one such an expression of love to God.]
But he hoped that to the humble his adorations would afford matter of unfeigned joy
[The godly are not so free from pride, but that flattery sometimes finds access to their hearts, and proves a gratification to their unwary minds. But in their better seasons, when their airy dreams have vanished, and they obtain juster views of themselves, they most unfeignedly lothe and abhor themselves, and desire that God alone should be exalted. To be told of their own goodness is nauseous and unpalatable: but to hear the praises of their God and Saviour, this is delightful to their souls. It is this that endears to them the ministers of God: he who with the clearest evidence and richest unction exhibits to their view the glory and excellency of their God, will be regarded as their best friend: and every one who in sincerity labours to fulfil this office, will be esteemed by them very highly in love for his works sake.]
To stir up within ourselves a similar disposition, let us consider,
III.
His exhortation to co-operate with him in this blessed design
He calls on all of us to unite with him in praising and adoring God: and his exhortation may well serve as an
Application to the foregoing subject. We ask then,
1.
Is it not a reasonable employment?
[Let any one call to mind the excellencies of God as they are described in Scripture, and then say whether it is not reasonable that we should exalt his name. But more particularly, let the wonders of redemption be surveyed (O wonders inexpressible, and surpassing all comprehension!); let the thought of Gods co-equal, co-eternal Son, becoming man, of his dying upon the cross, of his living again to make intercession for us in heaven; let the thought of this being done to deliver our souls from death, and to restore us to the favour of our offended Father; let this, I say, dwell upon the mind, and we shall see at once the reasonableness of this duty, and the utter unreasonableness of passing one day or one hour without renewed expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving.]
2.
Is it not a delightful employment?
[Poor indeed is the mirth of this world, when compared with the joy of praising God. This is the work of all the glorified saints and angels: they rest not day or night, saving, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Hosts!
And if this be the employment of heaven, what must such an exercise be to us, but a heaven upon earth? It is indeed a foretaste of heaven, as all who have ever engaged in it are constrained to acknowledge: nor, if we were always thus engaged, would any trouble or sorrow be able to molest us: our very afflictions would rather give energy to our souls, and enlarge at once our subjects of praise, and our disposition to abound in it.]
3.
Is it not a necessary employment?
[It is grievous on such a subject as this to insinuate any thing of an alarming nature: but, if men will not be constrained by love, we must endeavour to persuade them by the terrors of the Lord.
God declared to his people of old, that, if they would not serve him with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things which he had so liberally bestowed upon them, they should endure all the curses denounced in his law [Note: Deu 28:45; Deu 28:47.]. With how much greater force does this threatening come to us, if we neglect to praise him for the infinitely greater benefits he has conferred on us! We ourselves feel indignant if great and acknowledged virtues be despised, or eminent favours be disregarded. And shall God ever look with complacency on those who are blind to his excellencies, and insensible of his mercies? Whatever we may imagine to the contrary, none shall ever join the choir above, whose hearts have not been tuned to sing Gods praise below.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
It is a blessed way so lo praise God as to invite other’s to the same practice by our example; and when we not only invite by action, but by winning words. And the best evidence produced by way of propelling others to the praise of the Lord, is, when a soul can say, I have found him gracious. But Reader! is not Christ here strongly featured? Did not Jesus seek to the Lord, when, in the days of his flesh, he cried, and was heard in that he feared? Here then we find Christ. And what inference doth the Apostle make from this view of Christ? Why (saith he) he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. And being called of God an High Priest, in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Heb_5:7-8; Heb_2:17-18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.
Ver. 2. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord ] This holy gloriation is a Christian’s duty not to be neglected. The Church in the Canticles is much in it; and so is St Paul. It showeth a heart full of joys unspeakable and full of glory, 1Pe 1:8 . And, besides, God is thereby greatly glorified, Jer 9:23-24 .
The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
My soul = I myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
humble = patient, oppressed.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
make: Psa 44:8, Psa 105:3, Isa 45:25, Jer 9:24, 1Co 1:31, 2Co 10:17
the humble: Psa 22:22-24, Psa 32:5, Psa 32:6, Psa 119:74, Psa 142:7, 1Ti 1:15, 1Ti 1:16
Reciprocal: Gen 24:52 – worshipped Gen 48:16 – redeemed Exo 18:1 – heard 1Ch 16:10 – Glory Psa 62:8 – Trust Psa 66:16 – Come Psa 69:32 – The humble Psa 143:9 – flee unto thee Luk 1:46 – General 2Co 1:4 – that Phi 4:4 – alway
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the {b} humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.
(b) They who are beaten down with the experience of their own evils.