If you find a distance between your soul and God, there’s no question as to who moved.
So far, we have considered the biographical backdrop to Psalm 34, the rising tide of praise from David, and those hearing him who join in to “exalt His name together” (v 3, see also vv 1-2). Then in cryptic terms, he describes his deliverance both from outward foes and inward fears (vv 4-7). Following this, he contrasts the results of fearing men and fearing the Lord (vv 8-9). The latter “shall not lack any good thing” (v 10). Are you interested in hearing more about this reverential awe of God and how He uses it to deliver us? Well then, “Come, you children, listen to me,” says the psalmist, “I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (v 11). The following three verses sound much like the apostle James. Do you want the best out of life? Your tongue is the index of your soul. Your “desires” (v 12) affect your diction (v 13)!“your choice and use of words”; your diction affects your deeds (v 14); and your deeds affect your demeanor—you will “seek peace and pursue it” (v 14). At this point, David makes the subject very personal. Do you live face to face with the Lord? “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (v 15). You certainly don’t want His face clouded with displeasure (v 16)! Actually the life of trust and triumph is quite straightforward. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (v 17). When we take Him seriously, He does the same with us. And He is especially “near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (v 18). No doubt, “many are the afflictions of the righteous,” but that means just as many are the deliverances, too (vv 19-20)! Evil looks after the wicked, all right (v 21), but the Lord looks after “His servants” (v 22).