Psalm 34 - Consider The Circumstances

I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. [Psalm 34.1]

The heading for the 34th Psalm in the NLT Bible says this: "A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away." This circumstance should cause us to understand this entire Psalm carefully.

While David is pretending to be insane in front of King Achish, at some point concurrently, he wrote this Psalm filled with positive confessions about God'a favor and protection of those who serve Him.

What we see here then are two things. David is feigning insanity for Achish and his men (in public) and praising God for His overcoming power in every situation in private all in the process of running from Saul's death threat. Is there anything here for us to glean in our own walk with God?

I have just a thought... While it seems David's actions speak of fear in hypocritical contrast to Psalm 34, could it be that David ran away from Saul to protect Saul? Our clue that this just might be the case is Psalm 34 itself! Think about it - David ran to Goliath when he threatened to kill him. So Saul certainly presented no challenge for David's courage in the midst of danger. David's writing of Psalm 34 reveals David's confidence in his ability to overcome all odds. So, for David to "run from Saul" could only mean one thing: David honored Saul's position (and anointing) and fled from him only to keep Saul alive. David knew full well that he could annihilate Saul.

It is entirely plausible to consider that David's Psalm 34 could have been written for Saul, or at very least with Saul in mind, since David had previously been the one to play the harp for Saul to calm him down. Psalm 34 is worth another read with that in mind...

Another thing to consider from this Psalm is that David had the words of it on the inside while acting crazy on the outside. The problem many have today is having crazy in their hearts though while pretending to be full of faith on the outside. Hmm...

Father, help me to consider Psalm 34 not just for the prized and select verses found in it. But more importantly, help me to understand the dire circumstances surrounding it while also understanding that David was literally a fearless fighting machine. Help me to consider that David could easily have penned the words of this Psalm for Saul to 'confess' as much as for himself...