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.

Psalms 34:4-5

Explanation

The psalmist begins to express another reason for praising the Lord together. He gives a personal testimony about the God’s deliverance in his life. There is a pattern in both of these verses. In verse 4, the pattern is personal.  I sought the Lord. He heard me. He delivered me. 

In verse 5, the psalmist notes that this pattern is not unique to him. God has done the same thing for others.  They looked to the Lord. He lightened them. They are not ashamed. To be ashamed here means to be let down. God does not let them down when they call for deliverance. He comes through!

One commentator said this about verse 5.

“The promise implicit in the metaphor here is that those who look to God for good things will in turn quite literally embody God’s gracious actions in their own beings. Rather thans setting one’s face like flint when things go poorly (Isa 50:7), those who rely on God will have no need of poker-faced stoicism—they will be freed to wear joy openly on their faces.”

(New International Commentary on the Old Testament)

Application

Have you ever seen someone who has been delivered from sin, addiction, or trouble? When they humble themselves and look to the Lord, the Lord hears them and heals them, and their mourning is turned to laughter! God deserves the praise when He does this! We should go to Him, be delivered, and experience the joy that comes! When we do, it reminds us that He deserves all of the praise.

He made me. 

He saved me.

He sanctifies me.

He sustains me.

How can I stay silent? 

Response

Heavenly Father, thank you for hearing me, and delivering me from my sin, my trouble, and my shame. Help me to live a life of praise with my lips and with my life today. Amen