A thanksgiving of David for deliverance on the occasion of his 'changing his behaviour;' or, as Hengstenberg translates the TITLE, 'when he concealed his intellect' - i:e., feigned himself mad "before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed." Compare 1 Samuel 21:13-14, "He changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad ... and scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?" The general name Abimelech - i:e., father of a king (Genesis 20:1-18; Genesis 24:1-67), implying so hereditary monarch, stands here for "Achish." The alphabetical acrostic arrangement appears in the Hebrew. Psalms 34:1-22.-David resolves to praise Yahweh at all times, and invites the godly to join (Psalms 34:1-3); the grounds of his praise-Yahweh has delivered him when he prayed, and always supplies the wants of them that fear Him (Psalms 34:4-10); David invites all to learn from him, as a father, the fear of Yahweh (Psalms 34:11); it consists in keeping the tongue from evil, doing good, and pursuing peace; it results in His watching over us, and giving life to the righteous, however many be their present afflictions; whereas evil shall slay sinners (Psalms 34:12-21); conclusion (Psalms 34:22); Yahweh redeems His trusting servants.
['aleph (')]
I will ... all times - not only for the ordinary blessings of His Providence, but for the special, deliverance in the imminent danger at Achish's court. Compare the title. Special mercies call for never-ceasing thankfulness. David composed this psalm in a season of quiet, as its tone shows. The remembrance of the deliverance, though sometime past, awakens in him lively gratitude. Now that he is in prosperity, he makes it a ground-work on which to build an enduring monument of thanksgiving and encouragement to believers in all ages.
[beth (b)]