Taste and See: Experiencing God's Goodness
Psalm 34:8 (NLT): “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”
Introduction: An Invitation to Experience God’s Goodness
How many of us love the taste of a good meal? Whether it's a warm, home-cooked meal or a delicious dessert, tasting something good can bring joy to our hearts.
But have you ever considered that God invites us to taste and see His goodness?
In Psalm 34:8, David extends an invitation not just to observe, but to experience the goodness of the Lord for ourselves.
Today, we are going to explore what it means to taste and see that the Lord is good. We’ll discover that God’s goodness is not something distant or abstract but something real and personal, something we can experience in our everyday lives.
1. Taste and See: Experiencing God's Goodness First-Hand
Let’s begin with our key verse, Psalm 34:8 (NLT): "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"
David uses two sensory words here: taste and see. These are personal experiences. This is not just about knowing with our minds that God is good, but about experiencing His goodness with every fibre of our being. The Hebrew word for “taste” is ta’am, which refers to perceiving or testing something by experience. God invites us to come close, to experience His goodness, to savour the richness of His love and grace.
David wrote this psalm after being delivered from a dangerous situation. He had pretended to be insane before King Achish to escape with his life. David isn’t writing as someone who knows God’s goodness only theoretically — he had experienced God’s goodness in the midst of fear and desperation. This psalm is his response of gratitude and praise.
David isn’t inviting us to a one-time taste; the invitation is to continually experience God’s goodness in our lives. He is saying: Don’t just know about God, experience Him for yourself. This is an invitation to intimacy with God.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT): “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
God doesn’t hide Himself from those who seek Him. He is eager for us to know and experience Him.
Have you experienced the goodness of God in your life? Do you know Him not just as a distant deity, but as a loving Father who cares for you personally? God is inviting you today to taste and see His goodness, to draw near to Him, to trust Him in every situation, and to find joy in His presence.
Think about a person who’s never tasted honey before. You can describe its sweetness and texture, but until they actually taste it, they won’t truly understand how good it is. The same is true with God. You can hear about His goodness, but until you seek Him, trust Him, and experience Him for yourself, you won’t fully grasp how good He truly is.
As John Piper says, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." True satisfaction comes from experiencing the goodness of God.
2. God’s Goodness Is Evident in His Provision and Protection
In the same psalm, David speaks of how God provides for and protects those who seek Him.
Psalm 34:9-10 (NLT): "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."
The “fear” mentioned here is not about being afraid of God but having a reverence and awe for Him.
To “fear the Lord” means to honour and respect Him, to submit to His authority in our lives. When we live in this kind of relationship with God, we will experience His provision. David contrasts God’s faithful provision with the hunger of “strong young lions” — even the powerful can lack, but those who trust in God will never lack what they truly need.
The Hebrew word for “lack” here is chaser, which means to be in need or want. David is reminding us that God knows our needs and supplies them in His perfect timing and way.
Philippians 4:19 (NLT): "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."
In our daily lives, do we trust God to provide for us?
Are we seeking Him first, knowing that He is faithful to meet our needs?
Sometimes we become anxious, wondering how we will get by, but God promises to care for His children. This doesn’t mean life will be without challenges, but it does mean that in every situation, we can trust that He is with us, providing exactly what we need.
Imagine a child who never worries about where their next meal will come from. They don’t stress because they trust their parents will take care of them. We, too, can live with that kind of trust, knowing that our heavenly Father sees our needs and provides for us out of His abundance.
Charles Spurgeon once said, "The Lord’s mercy is a sea which cannot be filled, though mountains of sin be cast into its midst, it is still unsearchable and still remains boundless."
3. God’s Goodness Offers Refuge and Joy
The latter part of Psalm 34:8 (NLT) says, "Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"
The word “refuge” in Hebrew is chasah, which means to seek shelter or protection.
David is speaking from personal experience—he had found safety and protection in the Lord during times of great distress. When we take refuge in God, we not only find safety but also experience deep and lasting joy.
Psalm 46:1 (NLT): "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble."
Taking refuge in God doesn’t mean we won’t face trials. David himself was no stranger to suffering and hardship, but he knew that in every circumstance, God was his place of safety. When we take refuge in God, we experience His peace, joy, and protection, even in the midst of the storms of life.
Where do you turn in times of trouble?
Do you seek refuge in the Lord, or do you try to handle things on your own?
God is inviting you today to come to Him for protection, to trust that He is your safe place. And as you take refuge in Him, you will experience a joy that is beyond your circumstances—a joy that comes from knowing you are in the care of a loving Father.
Think of a lighthouse standing firm during a violent storm. The waves crash against it, but it remains unmoved, providing light and safety to those around it. God is our unshakable refuge, and when we take shelter in Him, we are secure no matter how fierce the storm.
As A.W. Tozer once said, “The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend.”
In Conclusion: The Invitation to Taste and See
So today, the invitation is simple but profound: Taste and see that the Lord is good. God’s goodness is not just something we hear about — it’s something we are invited to experience personally. When we taste His goodness, we experience His provision, protection, and joy.
Call to Action: Experience God's Goodness Today
How do we respond to this invitation? By seeking Him with all our hearts. By trusting Him in every area of our lives. By finding our refuge in Him. Whether you are facing challenges or living in abundance, God is calling you to come close and experience His goodness for yourself.
Will you taste and see today?
Invitation to Know Jesus as Lord and Saviour
Perhaps you’re here today, and you’ve never truly experienced the goodness of God because you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus.
I want to tell you, as plainly as I can, that you cannot truly taste and see the Lord’s goodness until you come to Him in repentance and faith.
Jesus stands at the door of your heart, and He is calling you to turn away from sin and turn toward Him.
As R.T. Kendall once said, "Repentance means you stop defending your sin and admit you are guilty."
It means acknowledging that you cannot save yourself and recognising that Jesus, through His death on the cross and His resurrection, has already paid the price for your sins.
He invites you today to receive Him as your Lord and Saviour, to place your trust in Him, and to experience the transforming power of His grace.
Don’t delay; today is the day of salvation. If you’re ready to make that decision, come to Him now with an open heart, and He will give you new life, new hope, and a new beginning in His love.
Will you taste and see today?
