John Calvin Commentary Psalms 34:4

"I sought Jehovah, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears." — Psalms 34:4 (ASV)

I sought Jehovah, and he answered me. The Psalmist here explains more plainly and more fully what he had said concerning joy. In the first place, he tells us that his prayers had been heard. This he applies to all the godly, that, encouraged by a testimony so precious, they might stir themselves up to prayer.

What is implied in seeking God is evident from the following clause. In some places it is to be understood in a different sense, namely, to bend the mind in earnest application to the service of God, and to have all its thoughts directed to him. Here it simply means to have recourse to him for help, for it immediately follows that God answered him; and he is properly said to answer prayer and supplication.

By his fears the Psalmist means, taking the effect for the cause, the dangers which sorely disquieted his mind; yet doubtless he confesses that he had been terrified and agitated by fears. He did not look upon his dangers with a calm and untroubled mind, as if he viewed them at a distance and from some elevated position, but being grievously tormented with innumerable cares, he might justly speak of his fears and terrors.

Moreover, by the use of the plural number, he shows that he had been greatly terrified not only in one way, but that he had been distracted by a variety of troubles. On the one hand, he saw a cruel death awaiting him; while on the other, his mind may have been filled with fear, lest Achish should send him to Saul for his gratification, as the ungodly are accustomed to make sport of the children of God.

And since he had already been detected and betrayed once, he might well conclude, even if he should escape, that Saul's hired assassins would lie in wait for him on all sides. The hatred, too, which Achish had conceived against him, both for the death of Goliath and the destruction of his own army, might give rise to many fears. This was especially true considering that his enemy might instantly wreak his vengeance upon him. Furthermore, he had good reason to think that Achish's cruelty was such that it would not be appeased by subjecting him to some mild form of death.

We ought to note this particularly, so that, if at any time we are terrified by the dangers that surround us, we may not be prevented by our faintheartedness from calling upon God. Even David, who is known to have surpassed others in heroism and bravery, did not have such a heart of iron as to repel all fears and alarms, but was sometimes greatly disquieted and stricken with fear.