Praise at All Times

David found the most unusual times to praise the Lord. Psalm 34 was written regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech. This was probably not the happiest time in his life. David “was afraid…so he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard” (1 Samuel 21:12-13). Yet David wrote in verse 1, “I will praise the Lord at all times.”

This morning I read verse 2 of this Psalm in several versions:
NLT I will boast in the Lord; all who are discouraged take heart.
NIV My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
KJV My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

I wondered just who it is who is to be rejoicing. Strongs Concordance defines the word as those who are “depressed in mind or circumstances.”

“Boast,” according to Strongs means to make a show, to be clamorously foolish, to celebrate.

So here is our version using Strongs' definitions:

I will praise the Lord at all times,
I will constantly speak his praises.
Even when I am discouraged because of my thoughts or my circumstances,
I will celebrate, even to the point of seeming foolish, the Lord’s goodness.

David knew he had learned a secret, so his next words call to all of us:
“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”

Exalt the Lord's name with me—no matter your thoughts or your circumstances! He is good. All the time.