Taste and See That the Lord is Good
Taste and See That the Lord is Good: A Journey of Faith and Hope
Experiencing God's Goodness Through Personal Relationship With Him
"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." - Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
David's invitation to "taste and see that the LORD is good" is not a suggestion for intellectual examination—it is a call to personal, experiential knowledge of God. Just as you cannot know the flavor of honey by merely reading about it, you cannot know God's goodness by secondhand information alone. You must personally taste—that is, you must come to God yourself, trust Him yourself, and experience His goodness yourself. This psalm was written during a time of great trial in David's life, yet his testimony rings with confidence: God is good, and those who trust in Him are blessed. Let us explore what it means to taste and see the goodness of the Lord, and how this transforms our lives.
The Invitation to Taste God's Goodness
When David says "taste and see," he uses a powerful metaphor. Tasting involves personal, intimate experience. You cannot taste for someone else, and no one can taste for you. Similarly, you must personally come to God and experience His goodness for yourself. This is not about intellectual assent or religious duty—this is about relationship.
God invites all people to come and taste His goodness. Isaiah records God's gracious invitation:
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." - Isaiah 55:1-2 (KJV)
God offers spiritual satisfaction freely to all who come. You need not bring payment or merit—you need only come with a hungry, thirsty soul. Jesus extends this same invitation:
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
Jesus promises rest, satisfaction, and peace to all who come to Him. Peter echoes this invitation, pointing us back to David's psalm:
"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." - 1 Peter 2:3 (KJV)
Have you tasted? Have you personally experienced God's goodness? This is the fundamental question everyone must answer.
The Goodness of God Revealed in Scripture
The Bible consistently testifies to the goodness of God. This is not wishful thinking or empty optimism—this is the revealed truth about God's character. Nahum declares:
"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." - Nahum 1:7 (KJV)
God's goodness is not abstract—it manifests practically in the lives of His people. He is a stronghold in times of trouble. He knows and cares for those who trust Him. The psalmist proclaims:
"For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." - Psalm 100:5 (KJV)
God's goodness is inseparable from His mercy and truth. He is not good in some arbitrary sense—His goodness flows from His perfect character. James declares:
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." - James 1:17 (KJV)
All genuine goodness originates with God. He is the source of every blessing. Unlike humans who change and fluctuate, God remains consistently good. His goodness is unchanging and eternal.
The Greatest Expression of God's Goodness
While God's goodness is evident in creation, providence, and daily blessings, His ultimate goodness shines forth in the gift of His Son. Paul marvels:
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:6-8 (KJV)
God demonstrated the height and depth of His goodness by sending Jesus to die for sinners. John declares:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 (KJV)
This is the ultimate taste of God's goodness—the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you trust in Christ, you experience forgiveness, justification, adoption, and eternal life. Paul explains:
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:4-7 (KJV)
Experiencing God's Goodness in Daily Life
Tasting God's goodness is not a one-time experience—it is an ongoing reality for those who walk with Him. The psalmist testifies:
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." - Psalm 34:1-4 (KJV)
David experienced God's goodness through deliverance from fear. God heard his prayers and answered. When we seek the Lord, we discover His faithfulness. He promises:
"The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." - Psalm 34:10 (KJV)
Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. This doesn't mean God gives us everything we want—it means He provides everything we truly need. Jesus taught us to pray for our daily bread, trusting our heavenly Father to supply our needs:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
God's goodness sustains us day by day. Jeremiah testifies:
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
God's Goodness in Times of Trial
One of the most profound truths about God's goodness is that it remains constant even in our darkest trials. David wrote Psalm 34 while fleeing from Saul and pretending insanity before a Philistine king. Yet in this desperate circumstance, he testified to God's goodness.
The righteous face afflictions, but God delivers them:
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken." - Psalm 34:19-20 (KJV)
God doesn't promise to prevent all trials, but He promises to be with us through them and ultimately deliver us. The apostle Paul discovered this truth:
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
Even when God doesn't remove our trials, His grace proves sufficient. His strength is perfected in our weakness. This is part of His goodness—He uses even our struggles to accomplish His purposes. Paul concludes:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (KJV)
The Fear of the Lord and His Goodness
David connects tasting God's goodness with fearing the Lord. He writes:
"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." - Psalm 34:11-14 (KJV)
The fear of the Lord is not terror—it is reverent awe, loving respect, and obedient devotion. It means taking God seriously, honoring His commands, and living righteously. Solomon declares:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." - Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)
Those who fear the Lord experience His special care and provision:
"The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." - Psalm 34:7 (KJV)
God watches over those who reverence Him:
"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry." - Psalm 34:15 (KJV)
Responding to God's Goodness
When we taste and see that the Lord is good, the appropriate response is worship, praise, and obedience. David models this response throughout Psalm 34. He begins:
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." - Psalm 34:1 (KJV)
He invites others to join him in praise:
"O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together." - Psalm 34:3 (KJV)
True worship is not isolated—it involves the community of faith. Paul commands:
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:19-20 (KJV)
We should also testify to others about God's goodness. Philip shared what he experienced with Nathanael:
"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." - John 1:45 (KJV)
The Promise of Future Goodness
While we taste God's goodness now, the fullness of His goodness awaits us in eternity. David expressed confidence:
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13 (KJV)
One day we will experience the fullness of God's goodness in His eternal presence. Paul writes:
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)
John was given a glimpse of this glorious future:
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." - Revelation 21:3-4 (KJV)
Take Refuge in God's Goodness
David's psalm ends with this declaration:
"The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." - Psalm 34:22 (KJV)
Those who take refuge in the Lord—who trust completely in His goodness—will never be desolate or abandoned. God redeems His servants and keeps them safe. Another psalmist declares:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." - Psalm 46:1-2 (KJV)
Will you take refuge in God's goodness today? Will you trust Him completely with your life? The psalmist urges:
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
Come and Taste Today
The invitation stands open before you—come and taste that the Lord is good. This is not merely a nice religious sentiment. This is a life-changing encounter with the living God. If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ, today is your day to taste His saving grace. Confess your sins, repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He promises to save all who call upon His name. If you are already a believer, continue tasting and seeing God's goodness every day through prayer, Scripture, worship, and obedience. Share your testimony with others—invite them to taste and see for themselves. Discover how to experience God's transforming goodness through His Word and personal relationship with Him. The Lord is good—blessed are all who take refuge in Him!