Psalm 34 • My God Is My Refuge

David wrote Psalm 34, and several others like it, at a great time of turmoil in his life while he was escaping from a murderous King Saul. The words he wrote during that time are like a journal revealing what David was thinking and feeling—fear, uncertainty, and confusion. He had none of his usual props in life (family, wealth, safety). That often happens to us as well. So the truths expressed in Psalm 34 about God and life following God are relevant for us to know and apply in our lives today.  

Glorify God at All Times

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3)

To glorify the Lord means to magnify Him, to see Him bigger and make others know how important He is. David declared that he would do this at all times—verbally so others could hear and rejoice. Consider the miserable situation in which he found himself, what a statement! And he invited others to join him in praising God with him. 

God Responds to David’s Tough Situation

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. (Psalm 34:4-7)

David sought the Lord in his difficult situation. God heard him and answered David in a way that delivered him from his troubles and his fears. He sensed that the Lord was surrounding and protecting him, acting as his REFUGE. 

A refuge is a safe place, shelter, or protection from danger, trouble, or distress. It can be a physical location or anything a person turns to for relief or escape during tough times. 

From 1 Samuel 22:1-5, we learn that God answered David’s prayer by helping him escape to a cave “hideout” where his family came to join him. God also sent about 400 men who became his army and some of his closest friends. He was still on the run, but he trusted God as his refuge.

Read more about this time in David’s life in the blog, “David: Loyalty to God and the Strong Support of Friends • 1 Samuel 16-26.”

Because on his own experience, David declared that those who look to God are radiant (v. 5), meaning to sparkle, stream forth light. Sparkle? In Psalm 19, David wrote that trusting in God’s Word gives joy to the heart and radiant light to the eyes. Haven’t you seen Christians who have joy in their eyes? Regardless of what is going on around us, we need to remember He is with us and in us. There is no shame in trusting Him. We can sparkle for Him. 

Taste and See for Yourself the Lord Is Good

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:8-10)

David invites us to taste and see for ourselves that the Lord is good. How do we do that? The answer is to trust Him with your time of distress or challenge. 

Our God is good all the time—even in the tough times, in different ways to each of us, and in what He allows or doesn’t allow into our lives. Do you believe that to be true? 

Because God is good all the time, those who trust in Him will lack nothing (vv.9-10). This is huge! When we have God with us, we lack nothing we need at the time. 

Read more about God’s goodness in this article, “Rahab • God Is Good All the Time.”

God Hears and Acts on Our Behalf

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:15-19)

When those who trust in the Lord cry out, God hears and acts on their behalf. Notice that God doesn’t prevent the righteous from having troubles or being in dangerous situations requiring His rescue. He allows certain things to happen by His choice and goodness. Yet, it may take some time for Him to work in the background to resolve the problem, but the promise is that He is working on it. Doesn’t that make you feel loved?

And the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and feel crushed in sprit by the way others treat them. You don’t have to be in some major trouble for God to care. He sees your heart and cares about you when you hurt. Don’t you love that?

Read more about His care during life’s challenges in this article, “2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10 • The Purpose and Reward for Enduring Life’s Challenges.”

Take Refuge in Your God

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:21-22)

David knew that God enacts His justice on the wicked in His own way and time. He also declared that those who serve God can take refuge in Him and not be disappointed. 

We all have frightening or humiliating experiences that are begging for deliverance. Our God responds to us when we cry out to Him and rescues us in some way from our trouble. We will lack no good thing that we need. We will never be condemned like those who do evil. He is our refuge—our place of safety and retreat. 

I can be confident He knows what is going on in my life and cares enough about me to act on my behalf. He gives light to my soul that makes my aging face radiant. I feel secure in Him as my REFUGE and strength to face this world’s challenges.

My God is my refuge. Is He your refuge always?  

Read more of our articles covering the Psalms.

Study this psalm and others in the short and easy Songs of the Heart That Light My Way Bible Study.