Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 2: Psalms 18–38

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Psalm 34 with Augustine – Seeking the Lord Above All Else

I will extol the LORD at all times (v. 1). When shall you extol the Lord ? When He blesses you? When your worldly possessions abound? When you have abundant wealth; when your physical health remains sound; when all your children grow up, no one dies prematurely, and happiness reigns in your house, then will you bless the Lord? No, but at all times . I sought the LORD, and he answered me (v. 4). Have you not been heard? Then you must not have sought the Lord himself. Notice, he did not say, I asked the Lord for gold, and he heard me; I asked the Lord for long life, and he heard me; I asked the Lord for this or that, and he heard me. It is one thing to seek anything from the Lord, another to seek the Lord himself. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing (v. 10). You see that many wicked rich men grow old, and come to the end of life amid great abundance and riches. You see their funeral celebrated lavishly—the man himself brought rich even to the grave, having been laid in an ivory coffin, his family weeping—and you say to yourself, I know that man’s crimes! Has the Scripture deceived me by speaking falsely? When was this man in need? When did he suffer hunger? But as for me, daily I rise up to go to Church, daily I kneel, daily I seek the Lord, and have nothing good. This man did not seek the Lord, and he died in the midst of all these good things! However, when you are filled with spiritual riches, can you be poor? And are you poor when the chamber of your heart is filled with such jewelry of virtues, justice, truth, charity, faith, endurance? Unveil your riches, if you have them, and compare them with the