Psalm 34:3 (ESV) … “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”
Psalm 34 deals with David’s dangerous experience with the Philistines in Gath, as recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10–22:1. We remember how David, afterward fled to the cave of Adullum.
As you might recall, David had killed Goliath of Gath, in the battle of the Valley of Elah. Yes, that Goliath! The one who was a monster of a man and was believed to have stood some ten and one-half feet tall.
Goliath had extraordinary strength. The army of Israel was in great fear of him. For forty days Goliath roared out his challenges and his cursing and deriding the living God of the Israelites. We know the rest of the story, of how a young Hebrew boy named David, stooped down at the brook and picked up five stones, went forth to battle this giant. Before the Philistines could shout “Long live Dagon!” Goliath was down! There before these two armies, the lad David cut’s off the head of this great warrior with his own sword. What a victory!
However, the slaying of Goliath not only spelled triumph for David, but it also spelled trouble. Later King Saul would grow jealous of David’s fame. Saul would wish David harm. Saul would try twice himself to harm David by throwing a javelin at him.
David is on the run. Saul, his own King, wants him dead. King Achish of Gath wanted him dead. David ends up in the cave of Adullum, hiding and fearing for his life. In this quiet place, David picked up his harp and begins to play. Psalm 34 is that song that David both wrote and sung.
With the world against David, sang his gratitude to God. In faith, David took his eyes off of his trouble and place them upon his rock of salvation. Psalm 34 is the song of that beautiful truth found in Romans 8: 28 … “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
When you find your soul cast down by the troubles and fears of this world, look up. Look up to our Lord and Creator! Give the Lord the praise due his name. Know that He is our ROCK of Salvation! Therefore, let us “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”