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Lesson 34: Taste And See That The Lord Is Good Series
Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 27, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: After celebrating God's gracious dealings with him, the Psalmist exhorts others to put His providential care to the test, and instructs them on how to secure it. He then contrasts God's care of His people and His corrective providence towards the wicked.
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September 20, 2014
Tom Lowe
Title: Taste and See that the Lord is Good.
A psalm of David.
Psalm 34 (KJV)
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Introduction
After celebrating God's gracious dealings with him, the Psalmist exhorts others to put His providential care to the test, and instructs them on how to secure it. He then contrasts God's care of His people and His corrective providence towards the wicked.
Commentary
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
I will bless the Lord at all times
“I will Bless the Lord at all times;” even in times of adversity. David's fortunes had been fading and were now at the lowest ebb. He had fled from the court of Saul after learning that Saul was determined to put him to death (1 Samuel 20:31). He had hoped to find a safe refuge with Achish, but had been disappointed. He was on the point of becoming a fugitive and an outlaw, forced to live in secret hideouts and caves—“David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam. . .” (1 Samuel 22:1). At the time, he did not have a large body of followers. We must admire his piety in composinga song of thanksgiving to God, at such a time.
The phrase, “At all times,” as it is used here means in every situation of life; in every event that occurs. The idea is that he would “Bless the Lord” both publicly and privately; in prosperity and in adversity; in safety and in danger; in joy and in sorrow. It would be a great principle of his life, indicating the deep feeling in his soul that God was always to be regarded as an object of adoration and praise. I pray we are able to say along with David, I will praise the Lord "At all times," in every situation, under every circumstance, before, during and after trials, in bright days of happiness, and dark nights of fear. A person who praises God for mercies shall never be without a mercy for which to praise. To “bless the Lord” is never out of season.
He will “Bless the Lord” by crediting Him with being the source of all blessings, and by giving to Him honour, praise, and glory, both as the God of nature and the God of providence; and He will do it every day, and all the day long. And he will continually praise Him as the God of grace, and the author of all spiritual blessings. The Lord’s saints have plenty of reasons to bless God in times of adversity as well as prosperity, since it might have been much worse with them than it is. Every day they receive an assortment of mercies, and all things work together for their good.