Psalm 34:8 invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good. What exactly does this mean? It doesn’t mean we are to “try” the Lord and see if we like Him. I have heard people reference this in the past, and it’s wildly unbiblical. The word taste has the idea of “sense, experience.” Thus, by God’s actions towards us, we can sense and experience Him. The word “see” carries the idea to “reveal, spy, look at.” Psalm 19:1, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” We taste, sense, experience, and see the works of His hands. And our conclusion is “He is good.”
I don’t have any words to describe the goodness of God. To try to define the word good as a description of God is impossible, but the word has the idea of “pleasant, delightful, joyful, do well, act right.” Thus, the Lord is pleasant, delightful and joyful. He is all of that. He is good to us in that He hasn’t destroyed us, but has provided a way for us to be made righteous.
The reason we know and experience the goodness of God isn’t related to our material accumulation. The man is blessed who takes refuge (vs. 8) in the Lord. Some have said a refuge is a shadow of a tree from the blazing sun. That certainly makes sense. A refuge is a place of safety or relief. This world is unstable, wicked, uncertain and vile. A place of refuge is in God no matter the outcome of wicked men’s devices or plans or pursuits. God is a provider. He provides a refuge for weary followers.
Are you weary? Life is uncertain, unstable, unsure, and it is war. Resting in the hope and promises of God is a refuge no man can provide. Take refuge in His promises. A key to tasting and seeing the goodness of God is fearing Him. Vs. 9, “O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.” Certainly a lack of fear and judgment exists today. You see this in some of the so-called churches today. No fear that leads to holiness. No fear that leads to righteousness. None.
What else could we want? What else is more precious than a sovereign God who walks through things with us? Furthermore, for those who fear the Lord there, “is no want.” Defined, the word want means, “no lack.” When we have God there is nothing lacking in Him. Seems that Paul understood this when it is recorded in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
The seeking of the Lord (vs. 10 says, “not be in want of any good thing.” This does not affirm the heretical prosperity gospel. Again, want means “no lack,” and when we seek the Lord, we don’t lack anything. He is the sovereign provider. How do we learn such things? How are we content with our life, circumstances, position and lot we are in? After fearing God, seeking Him and knowing He hears us, we learn from Him.
Vs. 11 commands us to “listen,” and He calls us “children.” If we listen to Him, “I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Notice what we are taught, the fear of the Lord. Fear defined is, “the beginning of wisdom and knowledge; the instruction of wisdom is to hate evil, and it involves departing from evil.” Fearing God is being greatly concerned about being disobedient to His commands. It should put fear into us as children of God to sin and violate His clear commands. As an earthly father teaches his children right from wrong though painful lessons, so does our heavenly Father. Why? Because we are His children.
We learn. We desire to be like Him. We fear disappointing Him. We come to this place in our lives because He is good. And we can taste and see this throughout His mercy in our life.