Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Thus are they made like Jesus their covenant Head. Scripture does not flatter us like the story books with the idea that goodness will secure us from trouble; on the contrary, we are again and again warned to expect tribulation while we are in this body.
David celebrates a signal deliverance: when he fled to King Achish of Gath, whom he reckoned his deadliest enemy after Saul, he feigned madness to escape certain death. That God granted him escape contrary to all expectation shows a memorable instance of His favor, fit for the instruction of the whole Church.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 34:1-22
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,.... This may be understood of some one particular righteous person, since the singular number is here made use of; whereas the plural is always used before, when the righteous are made mention of; and the Lord Jesus Christ may be designed, who is eminently and emphatically "the righteous"; he is righteous both as God and man, and as...