Psalm 34: Taste and See!

I just got back from John Piper’s Pastor’s conference in Minnesota. So if everything I write sounds just like something that Piper would say, forgive me, but it probably is. I do think that this psalm does fit nicely with Piper’s ministry theme: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Do yourself a favor, and chew on that statement for a while, and you’ll see that it sums up the gospel.

Piper said this past weekend that his book “God is the Gospel” is his most significant work even though it is not his best seller. He would say, “What good is the gospel if you don’t get God?” Sure the second person of the trinity is extremely important, but his role is mediator. He is one who brings us to God. So God is indeed the gospel. This means that, this side of eternity, we must train ourselves to find our satisfaction in God and God alone, which is very difficult in a world full of diversions and afflictions. So lets see how this psalm ties in to Piper’s theme.

The psalmist begins with, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” The opening line of this psalm says it all because as you keep reading, you will discover that the key to persevering through the hard times in your life is finding your satisfaction in God. And make no mistake; hard times are coming. The question is, "How will you respond?" or better, "Will you find your joy in who God is and what he has done for you?" Put simply, "Will you discover God as the gospel, the good news?"

The psalmist describes his difficulty with words like "fears" (vs. 4), "troubles" (vs. 6, 17), "crying" (vs. 17), "brokenhearted and crushed in spirit" (vs. 18), "many afflictions" (vs. 19). All of us have been there, and none of us will avoid being there in the future. What will you do? The Bible, and more specifically David, preaches to us the cure: "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

Contrast all of the verses that describe David’s difficulty with the way God responds to those who find their refuge in Him. The Lord answers and delivers (vs. 4). He saves the poor man (vs. 5). His angel encamps around those who fear Him (vs. 7). We will have no lack (vs. 9). He teaches (vs. 11). He hears and delivers (vs. 17). He becomes near (vs. 18), and finally, He redeems the life of His servants (vs. 22)!

My prayer for you as fellow sufferers in this body of sin is that you would “taste and see that the Lord is good!”