Dear friends,
There are two different kinds of knowing in life. The kind of knowing that comes from hearing from someone else and the knowing that comes from personal experience. And one of these is much more persuasive than the other. In Psalm 34:8 David wrote, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” When he wrote this, he was not just trying to make us listen to his words, he was inviting us to make a personal attempt to test the goodness of God for ourselves.
Taste is a personal experience. You can’t taste something from a distance, and no one else can genuinely taste something for you. You, yourself, must approach it, take it in, and allow it to touch your tongue for you to feel its effects. David’s words do not speak of a distant intellectual appreciation but a close relationship with God. God does not ask us to believe in His goodness based on someone else’s testimony. He calls us to come close, trust Him, and discover that He truly is good.
If you are unaware, this verse was written during a turbulent time in David’s life. He had just escaped life-threatening danger by pretending to be insane before a Philistine king. This is not usually the situation you would find yourself talking about the goodness of God. Yet, even in the middle of fear and uncertainty, David found a reason to praise. Why? Because he had tasted God’s faithfulness, even in the chaos. He had seen God’s provision and protection, even when his own strength failed.
The call to “taste and see” is an invitation to trust in God’s providence. The second part of the verse confirms this: “blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Trust is the spoon we use to taste God’s goodness. We choose to step out in faith, obey Him when it’s uncomfortable, lean on Him when we’re exhausted and worn, and trust His promises when we feel doubt bubbling up inside. In doing so, we find His presence sweeter than we ever imagined.
So, how can we ensure that we taste and see the Lord’s goodness? It’s simple. Before turning to worry, turn to God in prayer. When bitterness feels like the natural path, choose forgiveness. Set aside one day each week for God, trusting that God will make six days of labor enough. When sorrows and difficulty come, praise God, not because life is good, but because God still is even when life isn’t.
We often want to take a good look first before we take a bite. But God’s invitation is the other way around: taste first, then see. Try Him. Follow His ways. Put your weight on His Word. As Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17). When we obey, when we trust, when we come near, we discover the sweetness of who He is.
The Lord is not bland or distant. He is rich in mercy, full of grace, overflowing in steadfast love. And He invites us to come and see it for ourselves. When we taste His goodness, we do not leave hungry. As the following verse tells us, ‘there is no want to them that fear him”
