Psalms 34:1

David praiseth God, and exhorteth others thereto by his experience. They are blessed that trust in God. He exhorteth to the fear of God. The privileges of the righteous.

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

Title. ויגרשׁהו vaigarshehu. Who drove him away— Who dismissed him, according to the Vulgate, LXX, Arabic, &c. It is very probable, that Abimelech was a name of dignity given to all the kings of Gath, as Pharaoh and Caesar were to the Egyptian and Roman kings. See the notes on 1 Samuel 21. Dr. Delaney is of opinion, that David wrote this psalm for the use and instruction of those men who resorted to him at Adullam, after his departure from Gath. The psalm (says he) contains the noblest encouragements to piety and virtue, from an assurance that all such as are so devoted are the immediate care of Almighty God; as all those of a contrary character are his abhorrence, and the sure marks of his vengeance. The psalm, considered in this light, is certainly one of the noblest, the best turned, best judged, and best adapted compositions, that ever was penned. David begins by encouraging them to piety and gratitude to God from his own example, Psalms 34:1. He then exhorts others to make trial of the same mercies; to learn the goodness of God from their own experience, Psalms 34:8. He then assures them, that strength and magnanimity are no securities from want and distress; whereas trust and confidence in God are a never-failing source of every thing that is good, Psalms 34:10. After which he sums up all in a most pathetic and beautiful exhortation to piety and virtue, and to confidence in God; in full assurance, that, as he was the guardian and true protector of virtue in distress, so was he the unerring observer and steady avenger of wickedness. See Life of David, b. i. c. 12.