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8/26 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 18; Romans 16; Lamentation 3; Psalm 34
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
BLESSING
Truly, this verse can only be said of the Lord Jesus Christ as the perfect, sinless, righteous Man. Jesus was ever and always pleasing to the heavenly Father (John 8:29). Since all the words of Christ upon earth were heavenly truths, the wisdom of God was a constant and daily overflow of praise to the Lord (Psa 35:28).
On the surface, this verse might seem a strange thing to some because David penned this psalm according to the incident of his acting like a madman in view of the Philistines at Gath; and before Achish the king, in particular (1 Sam 21:10-15), who was also known as Abimelech (his title, meaning, “my father is king”). David feigned insanity, clawing at the gates of the city while spittle dripped upon his beard (1 Sam 21:13). This was a prophetic illustration of how unbelievers would view Jesus Christ— saying that the Lord Jesus had a demon or was insane (John 10:29). Likewise, it will be said of us by unbelievers, just as Festus exclaimed after hearing Paul’s testimony of Christ before Agrippa (Acts 26:24).
Although the frailties and corruptions of our flesh may keep us from continually praising the Lord with our mouths, if we have been saved by God’s grace, then we do indeed bless the Lord at all times. How so? The overflowing riches of Christ’s perfect praise are imputed to us because we are His. Even when we fail to praise God, Christ’s perfect praise is placed upon our account as a testimony to God’s grace and of Christ’s righteousness. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make any effort whatsoever in praising God from the love of our hearts. No. The verse says,
I will bless the Lord at all times;1
Because God’s grace in Christ is amazing and full of love, our appropriate response is to determine to bless God with every praise in, by, and through Christ Jesus. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Christ bless’d His Father at all times,
He prais’d God constantly;
Christ’s truth proclaim’d, His grace inclines
Our souls to praise with glee.
emphasis added