Psalm 34:1 – I will praise the LORD at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the LORD;
let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the LORD is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the LORD, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the LORD.
12 Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.  (NLT)

Have you ever eaten at a restaurant that was so good that you just had to tell your friends?  Have you watched a movie that you enjoyed so much you soon shared your experience with somebody else?  Have you ever found such a great bargain while shopping that you shared the news with others?  I think we have all had some experience in life that we shared with others, but the question this psalm begs of us: Have we ever experienced God in such a way that we had to tell others? 

Here in Psalm 34, the psalmist has experienced God in such a way that he wants others to share his experience.  In verses one through three, the psalmist says that he will not only praise God, but that he will boast about God.  Then he invited others who have experienced God in such a way to share with others what they have experienced.  The verse from this psalm that really grabs my attention is verse eight: “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”

Maybe you haven’t much felt like bragging about God lately.  Maybe it’s been a while since you experienced God in some great way.  We all have seasons of life.  We have our ups and downs.  The psalmist reminds us that if this is the case for us, then we need to taste and see.  How do we taste and see?

We taste and see God by being disciplined.  Certainly prayer, Bible study, and worship take discipline, and these may help us to experience God – to taste and see.  For each of us, there may be other ways to experience God.  We must be intentional at looking for God.  For me, when I find myself stressed from life, I go hiking.  My wife has told me more than once to take a hike, and she meant it!  When I take time to get away and take a Sabbath walk, I begin to experience God once again.  Taking time to look for God’s greatness is something we should all do.

How do you look for, and experience, God’s greatness?  Let us be disciplined in our efforts to experience God.  Set aside some time today to taste and see that the Lord is good! 

Posted by Ramón Torres