Psalms 34:1

At the end of the previous chapter of Psalms, Psalms 33, we are taught that the name of God is Holy and the Christian should rejoice in it. Here at the beginning of Psalms 34 we are told to, “bless the LORD at all times.” To bless can mean to say good things about. To say something you must first think about it.

In other words we should both think and say good things about Jesus. If you are taking God’s name in vain you certainly are not thinking good things or saying good things about the Almighty king of kings who died for the sins of the world, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Why should we say good things about God? Because God is good. God is holy. God is just. God is fair. God loves righteousness. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. God is merciful. God is love. God is Jealous. God judges sin. Most importantly God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. John 3:16-21 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the 3^rd day. He died for the sins of the world. He died for my sins and for yours. If you pray to him for forgiveness then He will save you and give you eternal life. I will bless the LORD at all times because Jesus died for my sins.

Psalms 34:2 says, “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”

The philosophy of the world is that men boast of their own abilities and accomplishments. This is contrary to the way a follower of Jesus should be. If you are going to boast about something do not boast about yourself but boast about Jesus and what He has done for you and will do for you in the future.

What do men have to boast of after all? If you have abilities God has given them to you. If you accomplish something in this life it is because God has helped you. Man is weak and sinful. Man is a failure. What does man have to boast of in regards to himself other than his own sinfulness? But Jesus is Holy. Jesus is Almighty. Jesus died for sinful man. Jesus rose again. The weakness of God is stronger than men. The foolishness of God is wiser than men. Make your boast in the LORD.

People who take God’s name in vain certainly are not people who “make their boast in the LORD.” In fact the reason people take God’s name in vain and the reason people do not make their boast in the LORD is because they are not humble.

Psalms 34:2 says, “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” One of the greatest problems with men is the problem of pride. Because of pride men do not repent of their sins and turn to Jesus. And because of pride men do not make their boast in the LORD Jesus. Only those with humble hearts rejoice and are glad when they hear others make their boast in the LORD Jesus Christ.

Humility begins by repenting of your sins and turning to Jesus of Nazareth for salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Ephesians 5:1 says, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”

Little children are not prideful and are not boastful. They are quick to trust. This is how men should be towards God and his promises.

Pride and faith are not the same thing. Pride is the opposite of faith. Faith is believing the promises of God, the Bible. Anything else is not faith but is pride. If you have faith then you will make your boast in the LORD Jehovah whose name is Jesus Christ because Jesus is God and Jesus died for your sins and rose from the grave. It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that there is salvation not of works lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Psalms 34:2 says, “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”

Psalms 34:3 says, “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” This verse tells us what Christian fellowship should be like. When Christians fellowship one with another they should be magnifying the LORD together and exalting the name of Jesus Christ. If believers in Jesus Christ are not doing this when they fellowship together then they are not having true fellowship in the Spirit.

Jesus said in John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Psalms 138:2 says, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” When the church meets it should meet for the purpose of preaching, prayer, and praise. How important it is to magnify the LORD and to make your boast in the LORD and to magnify the Word of God. If you do these things Jesus Christ will be glorified and the work of God will be accomplished in this world. And you will enjoy true fellowship both with Christ and with other believers.

Jesus said in John 7:18, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” Malachi 3:16 says, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

There is always something to be thankful to Jesus for. If anything there is always the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that every believer has. There is also the inheritance which will be given to the children of God in eternity. Ephesians 2:7 says, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. If we do these things then we are having Christian fellowship. If we are speaking about Jesus and His Word and not about ourselves then we are both having humility and we are accomplishing the will of God and therefore doing the work of God which will result in both the building up of the faith of the believers and in the preparing the hearts of the lost for when the Spirit of God touches them to be convicted of their sins that they might have the opportunity to trust in Jesus for salvation.

Psalms 34:1-3 says, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Thinking about and speaking forth the gospel of Jesus Christ and being thankful in your heart for the forgiveness of sins that is found in the Son of God is the best way to accomplish praising God.

John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Jesus Christ of Nazareth of the Jews died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the 3^rd day. If you pray to him and ask him to forgive you of your sins and to save you he will.

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