Psalms 34:1-16: a reflection

1I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. 2My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together. 4I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9Oh fear the LORD, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. 11Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 13Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies. 14Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it. 15The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. 16The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.

David, having been delivered from danger, overflows with praise and invitation. I sought the LORD, he says, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him. And then he invites others to know for themselves what he has known: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. He does not merely tell others that God is good; he invites them to taste and see for themselves.

Notice the invitation: taste and see. David does not want others merely to hear about God's goodness; he wants them to experience it for themselves, as he has. God's goodness is not only to be heard about secondhand, but tasted, experienced firsthand, by drawing near to him and trusting him. Those who take refuge in God, who seek him, come to know his goodness by experience, not just by report; and David invites us to that firsthand knowing: taste and see.

That is an invitation to experience God's goodness for ourselves. It is possible to know about God's goodness secondhand, to hear that he is good without ever really experiencing it, holding him at arm's length. But God invites us to taste and see, to draw near and trust him and discover his goodness for ourselves. Do not be content to know about God's goodness only by report. Taste and see for yourself: seek him, take refuge in him, trust him, and come to know his goodness firsthand, as David did, who sought the LORD and was delivered from all his fears. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him; draw near, and taste and see that the LORD is good.

Lord, David, delivered from danger, overflowed with praise, saying, I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears; and he invited others, oh, taste and see that the LORD is good. Give me that firsthand knowing. David did not want others merely to hear about your goodness; he wanted them to experience it for themselves. Your goodness is not only to be heard about secondhand, but tasted, experienced firsthand, by drawing near to you and trusting you. It is possible for me to know about your goodness secondhand, to hear that you are good without ever really experiencing it, holding you at arm's length. But you invite me to taste and see, to draw near and trust you and discover your goodness for myself. Keep me from being content to know about your goodness only by report. Help me taste and see for myself: to seek you, take refuge in you, trust you, and come to know your goodness firsthand, as David did. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in you; help me draw near, and taste and see that you are good.