15 The eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their cry.
And now, give ear, O our God, to the prayer of your servant and to his request for grace, and let your face be shining on your holy place which is made waste, because of your servants, O Lord. O my God, let your ear be turned and give hearing; let your eyes be open and see how we have been made waste and the town which is named by your name: for we are not offering our prayers before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercies. O Lord, give ear; O Lord, have forgiveness; O Lord, take note and do; let there be no more waiting; for the honour of your name, O my God, because your town and your people are named by your name. And while I was still saying these words in prayer, and putting my sins and the sins of my people Israel before the Lord, and requesting grace from the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; Even while I was still in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at first when my weariness was great, put his hand on me about the time of the evening offering. And teaching me and talking to me he said, O Daniel, I have come now to give you wisdom. At the first word of your prayer a word went out, and I have come to give you knowledge; for you are a man dearly loved: so give thought to the word and let the vision be clear to you.
And Hezekiah took the letter from the hands of those who had come with it; and after reading it, Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, opening the letter there before the Lord, And he made prayer to the Lord, saying, O Lord of armies, the God of Israel, seated between the winged ones, you only are the God of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Let your ear be turned to us, O Lord; let your eyes be open, O Lord, and see: take note of all the words of Sennacherib who has sent men to say evil against the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have made waste all the nations and their lands, And have given their gods to the fire: for they were no gods, but wood and stone, the work of men's hands; so they have given them to destruction. But now, O Lord our God, give us salvation from his hand, so that it may be clear to all the kingdoms of the earth that you, and you only, are the Lord. Then Isaiah, the son of Amoz, sent to Hezekiah, saying, The Lord, the God of Israel, says, The prayer you have made to me against Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has come to my ears.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 34
Commentary on Psalms 34 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 34
Ps 34:1-22. On the title compare 1Sa 21:13. Abimelech was the general name of the sovereign (Ge 20:2). After celebrating God's gracious dealings with him, the Psalmist exhorts others to make trial of His providential care, instructing them how to secure it. He then contrasts God's care of His people and His punitive providence towards the wicked.
1-4. Even in distress, which excites supplication, there is always matter for praising and thanking God (compare Eph 5:20; Php 4:6).
2. make her boast—"glory" (Ps 105:3; compare Ga 6:14).
humble—"the pious," as in Ps 9:12; 25:9.
3. magnify the Lord—ascribe greatness to Him, an act of praise.
together—"alike" (Ps 33:15), or, equally, without exception.
4. delivered … fears—as well as actual evil (Ps 64:1).
5-7. God's favor to the pious generally, and to himself specially, is celebrated.
looked—with desire for help.
lightened—or, "brightened," expressing joy, opposed to the downcast features of those who are ashamed or disappointed (Ps 25:2, 3).
6. This poor man—literally, "humble," himself as a specimen of such.
7. angel—of the covenant (Isa 63:9), of whom as a leader of God's host (Jos 5:14; 1Ki 22:19), the phrase—
encampeth, &c.—is appropriate; or, "angel" used collectively for angels (Heb 1:14).
8. taste and see—try and experience.
9. that fear him—who are pious—fear and love (Pr 1:7; 9:10).
saints—consecrated to His service (Isa 40:31).
10. not want any good—"good" is emphatic; they may be afflicted (compare Ps 34:10); but this may be a good (2Co 4:17, 18; Heb 12:10, 11).
11. children—subjects of instruction (Pr 1:8, 10).
12. What man—Whoever desires the blessings of piety, let him attend.
13, 14. Sins of thought included in those of speech (Lu 6:45), avoiding evil and doing good in our relations to men are based on a right relation to God.
15. eyes of the Lord are upon—(Ps 32:8; 33:18).
16. face … against—opposed to them (Le 17:10; 20:3).
cut off the remembrance—utterly destroy (Ps 109:13).
17, 18. Humble penitents are objects of God's special tender regard (Ps 51:19; Isa 57:15).
20. bones—framework of the body.
21, 22. Contrast in the destiny of righteous and wicked; the former shall be delivered and never come into condemnation (Joh 5:24; Ro 8:1); the latter are left under condemnation and desolate.