Psalm 34:1-3

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together!”

A sense of gratitude to God for his mercies will ever abide in some measure on the soul of a true believer. But there are special occasions whereon he is so impressed with the Divine goodness, that he feels as if he never could forget it, and as if he would have the whole creation join with him in his devout acknowledgments. This was the frame of David’s mind, when, by feigning himself mad, he had escaped out of the hands of Achish, who would probably have put him to death, or delivered him into the hands of Saul, his blood-thirsty persecutor. Compare 1 Samuel 21:10 to 1 Samuel 22:1, with the title of this Psalm.

In discoursing on David’s words, we shall notice,

I. David’s determination to praise God.

The ungodly love to boast about themselves.

Ungodly men love to boast about themselves. There is no unsaved man who has not some imaginary excellencies whereof to brag. If they possess any natural endowment either of mind or body, they are forward to bring it into notice, and to arrogate some praise to themselves on account of it.

One values herself upon her beauty,

another boasts of his strength or courage,

another prides himself in his wealth,

another displays his wit, or mental acumen.

Rather than pass unnoticed, the ungodly will boast of their iniquities and excesses; yes, (strange to say!) of iniquities they have not committed, and of excesses to which they have never arrived.

The godly, on the other hand, “boast in the Lord”.

They know, by bitter experience, that in themselves dwells no good thing. They have done nothing but what furnishes matter for the deepest humiliation. But they see in God multitudinous matters to excite their devoutest adoration. Whether they contemplate:

the perfections of God’s nature,

or the works of his hands,

or the wonders of his providence,

or the riches of his grace—

they are filled with wonder and astonishment; and, pouring contempt on all created excellencies, they exclaim, “Who is like You O God—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders!” Exodus 15:11

The Psalmist was the more induced to praise God in a public manner, from a consideration of:

II. The effect David hoped to produce by this means.

He did not expect any particular benefit to accrue to the proud.

The proud, alas! are disgusted with even the mention of God’s name, provided it is with reverence and love; nor do they ever speak of him themselves, unless it is to profane his name in oaths and curses. Their aversion to hear of him increases according to the degree in which he is honored. They will allow us to speak somewhat of God as he is manifested in creation; but they do not like to be told of his sovereign love in redemption. They will bear to hear a little of God (though but little) in his works of providence; but they cannot endure to hear one syllable of his gloriously rich and sovereign grace. If we utter but a word expressive of admiration and love on account of his condescension in revealing himself to our souls, we forfeit at once all title to respectability, and become in their eyes the most contemptible of beings. They would be less offended with curses and blasphemies and the grossest obscenity, than with one such an expression of love to God.

But David hoped that to the godly, his adorations would afford matter of sincere joy.

The godly are not so free from pride, but that flattery sometimes finds access to their hearts, and proves a gratification to their unwary minds. But in their better seasons, when their airy dreams have vanished, and they obtain juster views of themselves, they most sincerely loath and abhor themselves, and desire that God alone should be exalted. To be told of their own goodness is nauseous and unpalatable; but to hear the praises of their God and Savior—this is delightful to their souls! It is this that endears to them the ministers of God; he who with the clearest evidence and richest unction exhibits to their view the glory and excellency of their God, will be regarded as their best friend; and every one who in sincerity labors to fulfill this office, will be “esteemed by them very highly in love for his work’s sake.”

To stir up within ourselves a similar disposition, let us consider,

III. David’s exhortation to join with him in this blessed design.

David calls on all of us to unite with him in praising and adoring God; and his exhortation may well serve as an application to the foregoing subject. We ask then:

1. Is not extolling God a reasonable employment?

Let anyone call to mind the excellencies of God as they are described in Scripture, and then say whether it is not reasonable that we should exalt his name. But more particularly, let the wonders of redemption be surveyed (O wonders inexpressible, and surpassing all comprehension!); let the thought of God’s co-equal, co-eternal Son, becoming man, of his dying upon the cross, of his living again to make intercession for us in Heaven; let the thought of this being done to deliver our souls from damnation, and to restore us to the favor of our offended Father; let this, I say, dwell upon the mind, and we shall see at once the reasonableness of this duty, and the utter unreasonableness of passing one day or one hour without renewed expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving.

2. Is not extolling God a delightful employment?

Poor indeed is the mirth of this world, when compared with the joy of praising God. This is the work of all the glorified saints and angels, “they rest not day or night, saving, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty!”

And if this be the employment of Heaven, what must such an exercise be to us, but a Heaven upon earth? It is indeed a foretaste of Heaven, as all who have ever engaged in it are constrained to acknowledge; nor, if we were always thus engaged, would any trouble or sorrow be able to molest us; our very afflictions would rather give energy to our souls, and enlarge at once our subjects of praise, and our disposition to abound in it.

3. Is not extolling God a necessary employment?

It is grievous on such a subject as this to insinuate anything of an alarming nature; but, if men will not be “constrained by love,” then we must endeavor to “persuade them by the terrors of the Lord.”

God declared to his people of old, that, if they would not serve him with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things which he had so liberally bestowed upon them, they would endure all the curses denounced in his law, Deuteronomy 28:45; Deuteronomy 28:47. With how much greater force does this threatening come to us, if we neglect to praise him for the infinitely greater benefits he has conferred on us! We ourselves feel indignant if great and acknowledged virtues is despised, or eminent favors are disregarded. And shall God ever look with delight on those who are blind to his excellencies, and insensible of his mercies? Whatever we may imagine to the contrary, none shall ever join the celestial choir above, whose hearts have not been tuned to sing God’s praise below!

Charles Simeon