No better invitation: ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’
By Dean Collins
The customer at the restaurant table in the 70s commercial kept asking the waiter what exactly the menu item was, and the waiter continued to answer, “Try it, you’ll like it.”
Then the customer told us, “So I tried it—and thought I was going to die!” The punch line led to why Alka-Seltzer was the perfect solution to his indigestion problems and of course, would be for ours as well.
Many benefits
David said something similar when he wrote Psalm 34: “Taste and see.” But the ancient king was not selling food from a Jewish deli. And his offer does not lead to the need for Alka-Seltzer. His offer had to do with fully consuming our faith and trust in the Lord as one truly worthy of our worship, our deliverer from every challenge and every enemy.
Consider the benefits of “tasting” the goodness of God:
1. He answers us and delivers us from all our fears (v. 4)
2. When we look to God for our help, we will never be ashamed and our faces will show it (v. 5)
3. When we confess our poverty and inability to provide all our needs, God saves us from all our troubles. Humility is the key (v. 6)
4. God sends messengers/angels to assist us (v. 7). Maybe these are the ministering angels the book of Hebrews describes? (Hebrews 1:14)
5. The Lord says we will experience no lack of provision (vv. 9-10)
Full attention
Have you ever watched a parent get the attention of a child who is restless, stubborn, or needing assurance? We have probably witnessed an angry parent demanding the child to look at them. But I have also witnessed a mother or father gently asking the child who needs assurance to look at them in the face and see the sincerity of help the parents can provide. The parent might even hold the face of the child as they lovingly correct or provide assurance.
In the last few verses of Psalm 34, we read that the Lord is “near to the brokenhearted.” He wants to help those whose spirits are crushed. Note that our willingness to humbly ask for God’s help in our time of need brings his full focus to us: “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.“ God gives us his full attention when we cry out to him for help. He has provided us with redemption in Christ and promises us that we are not condemned but rather can discover refuge in him.
So today maybe it’s time to “taste and see” the goodness of the Lord.
Lord, today we give you all our fears. We bow before you declaring that you are good. We trust that you are leaning in, looking, and listening as we pour out our needs to you. We trust your Word to be true and that you will send help even now. Transform our minds and hearts so that our faces show the peace and confidence of one redeemed, transformed, and loved by you, our Savior and King. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 34:1-10, 15, 17-20, 22 ESV
Photo by SementsovaLesia at istockphoto.com
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