Taste and See
Scripture
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”
—Psalm 34:8–14 (NLT)
I don’t know if you’re like me, but I love trying new food. Sometimes you find something amazing, and other times… not so much. When David writes, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” he’s inviting us to experience God’s goodness for ourselves. The Lord isn’t just good in theory, He is truly good.
“God’s goodness is the root of all goodness; and our goodness, if we have any, springs out of His goodness.”
— William Tyndale¹
Those who take refuge in Him discover the joy that flows from that goodness. When you truly know the Lord, you come to know His heart. And that knowledge changes the way you see Him. You shouldn’t live in terror of God, but you ought to carry a deep reverence for the One who created heaven and earth. That kind of fear leads to trust, and trust opens the door to provision. David says even strong lions go hungry, but those who put their confidence in the Lord will not lack any good thing.
If you want to live a long and full life, David tells us it’s really pretty simple. Honor the Lord in the way you speak and in the way you live. Watch your words and don’t let them slip into gossip or dishonesty. Choose instead to speak what is good and true. Turn away from what you know is wrong and lean into doing what is right. And because Jesus is the Prince of Peace, you’re called to be someone who doesn’t just hope for peace but actually looks for it and does the hard work of keeping it.
So today, don’t just talk about His goodness. Take one small taste of it, an honest word, a moment of trust, a step toward peace, and let it remind you that He really is that good.
Reflection
- When have you most clearly experienced the goodness of God in your life?
- What area of your words or actions needs to be more aligned with honoring the Lord?
- How can you intentionally “search for peace and work to maintain it” in your relationships this week?
Prayer
Thank God for His goodness and provision in your life. Ask Him to guide your words and actions so they honor Him. Pray for a heart that seeks peace and reflects the joy of trusting in His goodness.
Footnote
¹ William Tyndale, Doctrinal Treatises and Introductions to Different Portions of the Holy Scriptures (1848), p. 296.