The Hidden Story of Psalm 34: 5 Fascinating Facts You May Not Know

Psalm 34 opens with King David's declaration that he will praise Hashem at all times:

"I will bless Hashem at all times; His praise shall always be in my mouth."

He then invites everyone around him to join in praising Hashem:

"Magnify Hashem with me, and let us exalt His name together."

From the very beginning, the psalm teaches that gratitude and praise should be constant, no matter what circumstances a person faces.

Encouragement for Those Who Fear Hashem

King David shares how Hashem rescued him during a time of great distress:

"I sought Hashem, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears... This poor man cried, and Hashem heard, and saved him from all his troubles."

Drawing from his own experience, David encourages all who trust in Hashem:

"Fear Hashem, His holy ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Young lions may go hungry, but those who seek Hashem will not lack any good thing."

The message is clear: those who place their trust in Hashem can rely on His care and provision.

Learning the Fear of Hashem

The psalm then shifts into practical guidance for living a life of faith. David tells his listeners:

"Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Hashem."

He explains that fearing Hashem is expressed through the way a person lives each day:

"Who is the person who desires life, who loves days and wants to see good? Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

These verses have become some of the best known teachings in the Book of Psalms, offering timeless guidance for anyone seeking a meaningful and righteous life.

Hashem Protects the Righteous

The final section of the psalm praises Hashem for caring for the righteous while bringing justice upon the wicked:

"The eyes of Hashem are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of Hashem is against evildoers, to cut off their memory from the earth."

David emphasizes that Hashem hears every sincere prayer:

"They cried out, and Hashem heard, and delivered them from all their troubles."

The psalm concludes with a powerful promise:

"Hashem redeems the soul of His servants, and none who take refuge in Him shall be held guilty."

The Full Chapter

(1) Of David, when he changed his behavior before Avimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

(2) I will bless Hashem at all times; His praise shall always be in my mouth.

(3) My soul shall glory in Hashem; the humble shall hear and rejoice.

(4) Magnify Hashem with me, and let us exalt His name together.

(5) I sought Hashem, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

(6) They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.

(7) This poor man cried, and Hashem heard, and saved him from all his troubles.

(8) The angel of Hashem encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.

(9) Taste and see that Hashem is good; happy is the person who takes refuge in Him.

(10) Fear Hashem, His holy ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

(11) Young lions may go hungry, but those who seek Hashem will not lack any good thing.

(12) Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Hashem.

(13) Who is the person who desires life, who loves days and wants to see good?

(14) Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

(15) Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

(16) The eyes of Hashem are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

(17) The face of Hashem is against evildoers, to cut off their memory from the earth.

(18) They cried out, and Hashem heard, and delivered them from all their troubles.

(19) Hashem is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those crushed in spirit.

(20) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Hashem delivers him from them all.

(21) He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.

(22) Evil will bring death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be held guilty.

(23) Hashem redeems the soul of His servants, and none who take refuge in Him shall be held guilty.

5 Fascinating Facts About Psalm 34

1. It Is Written as an Alphabetical Acrostic

From verse 2 through verse 23, each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, making Psalm 34 an alphabetical acrostic.

2. It Is Part of the Shabbat and Yom Tov Morning Prayers

Psalm 34 is included in Pesukei D'Zimra on Shabbat and Yom Tov and is recited before Barchu during the morning prayer service.

3. Two Well Known Verses Are Recited After Birkat Hamazon

The verses,

"Fear Hashem, His holy ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing,"

and

"Young lions may go hungry, but those who seek Hashem will not lack any good thing,"

are recited at the end of Birkat Hamazon. They remind us of the close connection between fearing Hashem and trusting Him to provide for our needs.

4. Some of the Psalm's Most Famous Teachings

Three consecutive verses from Psalm 34 have become among the most well known teachings in Jewish tradition:

"Who is the person who desires life, who loves days and wants to see good? Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

These verses continue to inspire people to live lives of honesty, kindness, and peace.

5. The Story Behind David's Pretended Madness

Midrash Tehillim explains that King David once questioned why Hashem created madness. He wondered what purpose it could possibly serve and why someone should have to suffer such a condition.

Hashem answered that one day David himself would understand.

Later, while fleeing from King Saul, David arrived in Gat, where he was recognized as the warrior who had defeated Goliath. Achish, king of the Philistines, was urged by his servants either to kill David in revenge or to surrender his throne to him.

Realizing he was in immediate danger, David prayed to Hashem for help. He then pretended to be insane, scratching on doors, behaving irrationally, and making himself appear mentally unstable.

According to the Midrash, Achish already had enough trouble at home because his wife and daughter were genuinely mentally ill and crying out inside the palace. Seeing David's strange behavior, Achish exclaimed sarcastically:

"Am I so lacking in madmen?"

He ordered David to be driven away, and David's life was spared.

Filled with gratitude for this miraculous rescue, David composed Psalm 34, declaring:

"I will bless Hashem at all times."

The Midrash concludes by quoting the verse from Creation:

"And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good."

Its message is that everything Hashem created has a purpose, even things that may seem difficult or unnecessary at first.

Conclusion

Psalm 34 is a beautiful reminder that Hashem hears every sincere prayer, protects those who trust in Him, and remains close to the brokenhearted. Through its timeless teachings on gratitude, faith, righteous living, and Divine protection, this psalm encourages us to seek Hashem in every situation and to praise Him at all times.