Taste And See (Psalm 34:8)

 


Wednesday, May 14, 2025


Psalm 34

Exodus 25:31-40; 27:20-21

John 11:38-44


Observance: Matthias, apostle and martyr [if not observed on February 25]


Taste And See (Psalm 34:8)


Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!


Raising a toddler has its own set of challenges that one thought they would never face. As one who enjoys dinner time – the gathering of the family, the setting of the table, the catching up over the day that is past, the joy of good food with loved ones – it is difficult to understand why the toddler turns up his nose at the plate in front of him. It is not as if I am punishing him with boiled cabbage or anything like that; he eats what we eat, and we eat pretty well.


Taste and see that the Lord is good, exhorts the Psalmist. The Psalm contains only a little about living in God’s ways – speak the truth, seek peace – but has plenty about how good God is. It is not as if living in God’s ways is a huge burden. But the rewards are enormous.


And the rewards are not abstract, either. The reward is the Lord himself. Yes, the Lord is responsible for giving all good things to those who love and fear him, but they flow downstream from the big prize, which is himself.


Troubles may come, says the Psalmist, keeping true to the fact that the Psalms are eminently relatable to real life. Many are our afflictions. But the Lord delivers us out of them all.


I mean, we don’t have to, though. We could turn up our nose at this feast the Lord has laid before us. But our Father is speaking to us through the Holy Spirit in these words: just taste and see. Trust him – you will like it.


What temptations to deny the Lord’s goodness are in the world? What tastes and looks good about following the Lord?


Good Lord, you give so many blessings to those who love and follow you. Encourage us to feast at the table of your blessings.

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