詩篇第卅三篇是回答詩篇卅二篇十一節（兩者本來是同一詩）的邀請，因為所有的義人與正直的人都應當頌讚與歡呼，用歌唱和樂器共同敬拜讚美上帝。大衛先前充滿睿智的證道（他見證上帝的饒恕；詩篇第卅二篇）促成他作了一首「新歌」（詩33：3），榮耀敬拜上帝，歌頌祂的良善、信實，以及創造宇宙的偉大奇功。（33：9）。

        當詩人將人類的軟弱與上帝的話語、計劃，及目的作一比較時，上帝的主權就有了進一步的凸顯：「耶和華的籌算永遠立定，祂心中的思念萬代常存」（33：11）。上帝為人類所定最大的計劃就是賜下祂的獨生愛子耶穌，使我們的靈魂得拯救、脫離死亡。由於上帝愛我們，祂對我們所做的事都有興趣。祂的無所不知（全知／全見）是詩人認為，應受讚美的另一個原因。對被救贖的人而言，耶和華是警醒的牧人，祂的眼目看顧他們（33：18~19）；但是對惡人來說，祂就是專司賞罰的審判官，不僅能看到人類的一切行為，也了解人類心裡所想的事（33：13~15）。這首讚美詩篇以有信心的禱告為終止：「耶和華啊，求您照著我們所仰望您的，向我們施行慈愛」（33：22）。

        詩篇第卅四篇是一篇希伯來人讚美上帝的「字首詩」（就像第廿五篇一樣）；它的著作時間是在大衛沒有信心逃脫掃羅的追殺，跑到非利士的迦特城時。後來他在迦特王面前裝瘋，被逐出境，又逃到亞杜蘭的山洞，耶和華派遣四百人去那裡支持他（撒上21：10~15；22：1~2）。大衛這時謙卑了，也受到啟迪。他藉著這經驗逐漸了解上帝的恩典和憐憫，敬畏祂的就一無所缺。

        大衛心裡決定「要時時稱頌耶和華」，不論境遇如何（34：1；參腓4：4；來13：15）；就像使徒保羅一樣，他逐漸明白，他所能誇耀的只有主耶穌（加6：14；耶9：23~24）。他明白主耶穌應當受到更多的頌讚，所以也勸人跟他一起敬拜主，唯有那樣才能榮耀及高舉祂。

        大衛在迦特城的羞恥行為是出於恐懼，但是在他尋求耶和華之後，主就救他脫離一切恐懼（34：4；可能是指躲到亞杜蘭山洞中）。大衛稱他自己是一個「困苦人」，意思是說他是絕望、困苦、需要幫助的人；但是在他虔誠禱告之後，上帝就救他脫離一切困難，並且增強他的信心，及勇氣（34：6）。

        大衛在第八節說：「你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味，便知道他是美善」，要求信徒試驗上帝的良善（34：8-10），因為只要嚐過了，就還想再嚐。

        大衛用他由經驗中得到的知識警告及教訓別人，好讓他們不犯下相同的過錯。他要求所有的兒女都傾聽他智慧的話語。如何才能快樂又長壽：（1）禁止舌頭，不出惡言。，因為嘴裡所說的話會反映心裡所想的事；（2）離惡行善（在生活中實踐上帝的律法）；（3）尋求和睦，一心追趕。正如使徒保羅所教導的，「務要追求和睦的事，與彼此建立德行的事」（羅14：19）。

        行公義、敬畏上帝、存謙卑的心接近上帝的人，將得到耶和華使者的親近與保護。這使者也就是我們的主耶穌（34：7、17~18；書5：14~15；賽63：9）。我們從約翰福音了解，大衛以說預言的方式，指耶穌就是那位「義人」，多有苦難，但是「耶和華救他脫離這一切，又保全祂一身的骨頭，連一根也不折斷」（34：19~20；約19：33、36）。耶穌不僅是新約中最重要的人物，也是整部聖經中無人能相比的。

        哦，上帝啊，當我們讀完詩篇時，我們的心與詩人一同讚美您及您所行的奇事。我們都嚐過您的滋味，都知道您是美善無比的！奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        Psalm 33 answers the invitation of Psalm 32:11 (they were originally one psalm), for all the righteous and upright to rejoice in the Lord and shout for joy. The response was one of corporate praise and worship with singing and musical instruments. The ocassion of David's wise and insightful sermon (his testimony of God's forgiveness, Psalm 32) warranted the composition of "a new song" (33:3) of glorification and adoration to God who is to be praised for his goodness and faithfulness, as well as His marvelous creative work of the universe. Alluding to the Genesis account of creation, the psalmist stands in awe and magnifies the Lord who merely had to speak the word, and it was done (33:9).

        The Lord's sovereignty is further expressed by contrasting mankind's weak and futile plans with God's enduring and authoritative word, plans, and purposes: "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations" (34:11). The greatest plan of God's heart for mankind was the plan of redemption in sending His Son Jesus, so that our souls might be saved from death. Because God loves us, He is truly interested in all we do. His omniscience (all-knowing/all-seeing) is yet another reason the psalmist notes for which He is worthy of praise. For the redeemed, He is the watchful Shepherd and His eye upon them is welcomed (33:18-19); but for the wicked, He is the Judge that punishes, for He not only sees all the deeds of man but understands the heart of man (33:13-15). The song of praise concludes with a prayer of faith: "Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You" (33:22). In this prayer we are reminded of the words of Jesus when He was called upon to show mercy: "According to your faith let it be to you" (Matthew 9:29).

        Psalm 34 is a Hebrew acrostic of praise to God (like Psalm 25) and was written after David's bitter experience of his lack of faith in running from Saul to the Philistine city of Gath and feigning madness before the king, who threw him out. From Gath he escaped to the cave of Adullam where the Lord sent him four hundred men to support him (1 Samuel 21:10-15; 22:1-2). David was humbled and yet enlightened by this experience. Through it, he came to understand more fully the grace and mercy of God, who was his all-sufficiency.

        David resolved in his heart to continually praise the Lord, no matter what the situation (34:1; cf. Philippians 4:4; Hebrews 13:15), and like the Apostle Paul, he came to realize that his only boast was in the Lord (Galatians 6:14; Jeremiah 9:23,24). He saw that the Lord was deserving of more than just his own praises, so he urged others to participate with him in worship that would magnify and exalt the Lord.

        David's shameful behaviour in Gath was because of fear, but God delivered him from all his fears after he sought the Lord (34:4, likely in the cave of Adullam). David referred to himself as "this poor man", meaning he was desparate, troubled, and in need of help; but with one sincere prayer, God brought him salvation from all his troubles and increased his faith, confidence, and boldness (34:6; cf. 2 Timothy 1:7).

        With the familiar words "taste and see that the Lord is good", David challenged the congregation to test God's goodness (cf. 1 Peter 2:3), for if they had but a taste, they would desire more of Him. They would indeed learn that blessed is the man who trusts, fears, and seeks the Lord, for God is faithful to provide for every need (34:8-10; 84:11; Philippians 4:6; Matthew 6:32-34).

        David's experiential knowledge gave him the right to warn and instruct others, so that they might not make the same mistakes. He called upon all his children, young and old, to listen to his words of wisdom. By answering his own question, he instructed the people in what they must do to have a long happy life. They were to: 1) keep their tongue from evil and guile, for that which comes from the mouth reflects that which is within the heart; 2) not only depart from evil, but "do good" (put God's law into practice); and 3) not only seek peace but pursue it, which the Apostle Paul teaches as including practicing those things which edify one another (Romans 14:19).

        Those who practice righteousness, fear God, and approach Him with humility and brokenness are also blessed with the close presence of the Angel of the Lord, namely our Lord Jesus (34:7, 17-18; Joshua 5:14-15; Isaiah 63:9). From John's gospel, we learn that David was speaking prophetically by referring to Jesus as "the righteous [man]" whose afflictions were many, but God delivered Him, and not one of his bones were broken (34:19-20; John 19:33, 36). Jesus is truly the main character of the whole Bible, not just of the New Testament.

        Oh God, as we read through the Psalms, our hearts are joined with the psalmist in praise for who You are and all Your wonderful deeds. We too have tasted and have seen that You are good!