Psalm 34
Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good?
Take a moment to read this Psalm… meditate, journal, and reflect.
Psalm 34
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
When David wrote this psalm, his circumstances were anything but good, yet he proclaimed the Lord’s goodness throughout. You would think he was being flooded with blessings, but the very opposite was true. We see in 1 Samuel 18-19, that Saul (the king at the time) was tirelessly scheming to kill David. After escaping the wrath of Saul, he fled to Gath, where things weren’t any better. Achish, the king of Gath, was jealous and envious of him, so David pretended to be crazy, so he would not kill him. After escaping death not once, but twice, David writes the words “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8).
Our limited human nature alone cannot understand this kind of response from David. But David tasted and knew God. This changed the whole context for him. He knew God was bigger than the circumstances he faced. He had a close relationship with God, which brought him peace that surpassed his understanding and praise that only God is worthy of. He praised God for delivering him that day…knowing hard days were still ahead of him. Nothing could stop praise from flowing from his lips.
So how could this be?
Well, God is personal. He knows every fiber of our being. He knows our suffering, the trials, our insecurities. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He plans to pour out everything to keep us from anything that may threaten eternity with Him. He wants to satisfy us fully with Himself. When we are fully satisfied in Him, walking closely in step with the Spirit, and trusting Him for our every move…praise will naturally and abundantly flow from our lips.
This doesn’t mean a pain-free life. This doesn’t mean a life without suffering or sacrifices. But as we cling to Him in the midst of trials, we will taste and see His goodness more clearly. We will begin to understand and believe wholeheartedly that refuge with the Lord in the midst of trials is far better than the comfort of safety without Him. This is what I would consider “invincible joy” and it only comes from the Lord Himself. It’s not a joy that is based on how I’m feeling or if my circumstances are favorable. It’s a joy that comes from tasting how good God is in the midst of any and every kind of circumstance.
I know this to be true, because I can look back on some of the most challenging times of my life and clearly see the Lord’s hand in the midst of each of them. I can look back and recognize the pain, but still proclaim His goodness today. I can do this because these trials brought me to my knees…bowing and praying to a God, Who I knew in my heart was all I could ever want or need.
I think this is what He wants us to do now. I believe He wants us to taste His goodness. I think he wants us to fall on our knees before Him and say “Lord, I trust you are good. My life may be crumbling around me, but I know your mercies are new each morning and you are faithful. I know you are bigger than any trial I will ever face. Forgive and help my unbelief. I just want more of you. Fill me with your peace that surpasses all understanding. I take refuge in You—not the things of this earth…”
I pray this would be our heart’s posture as we speak to Him today.
Reflection Question(s): How has He (small or large) lovingly cared for you today, yesterday, this week? Taste and see that He is good and trust that He will provide this same grace again tomorrow.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness”
Lamentations 3:22-23
Today’s Worship Song: Come to the River — Housefires
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKVHGi1iRLE
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3zB3huow4HmW2VQThBMXYB?si=cRcSSWPIT06VXUHCLxbO2w
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/come-to-the-river/912360127?i=912360129
Please continue to send prayer requests my way! Also, if you have any questions about what you read today, or just want to chat, my email is: blrich1399@gmail.com
With Love,
Brooke
