Psalm 34 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Psalm 34 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

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King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Should we fear God?
See 2 Tim. 1:7.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Those "that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." (Those who are poor or hungry just aren't seeking God enough.)
First of all, the psalmist does not speak here about the poor, but about those we seek God. Only they have a right to this promise. If people are hungry, due to whatever circumstances, they do not automatically have a right to this promise.
Secondly, about the poor. The author of the SAB equates the possession of a Mercedes-Benz with a good thing. You don't lack a good thing if you don't lack consumer goods. I doubt the psalmist was making that point. The good here is the things necessary for this life and above all God's friendly countenance towards them. The good they have cannot be taken away from them, in particular a new heart and the forgiveness of sins.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

"To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth"
Does hell exist?
The psalmist says: “to cut of the remembrance”, so they will no longer be remembered on earth. This verse is not about life after death, but that those evildoers will be forgotten.

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

Do evildoers prosper?
See Job 12:6.

22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

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