O Taste and See That The LORD Is Good

Meditations on the Psalms 

August 19, 2022

O Taste and See That The LORD Is Good

 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18

The introduction to Psalm 34 refers to the time David was fleeing from King Saul and sought refuge in the land of Abimelech (aka Achish), “And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath" (I Sam. 21:10).

However, David found that he had leaped out of the pan and into the fire and had to use some chicanery to avoid death at the hands of Abimelech.

On first reading, there are several lines that catch my attention: ⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me; ⁸ O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him; ¹⁴ Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it; ¹⁷ When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears; and ¹⁸ The LORD is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

There is also a bit of a paradox with this psalm. Even though the psalmist acknowledges that the righteous will face many afflictions, he says the LORD rescues them from them all. The psalmist paints a pretty rosy picture for those who trust in the LORD; a picture that few of us have experienced in reality. He even writes, “He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken” (v.20). This verse is our cue to remember that we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern when to take scripture literally and when scripture is speaking in figurative terms. Here, it is a little of both.

First, the literal. When crucifying a person, the Roman soldiers would often break the leg bones of the victim to hasten death. They started to break Jesus’ bones but stopped. Jesus fulfilled Psalm 34:20.

Although the children of God will face many afflictions, persecutions and even death, the LORD has rescued us. God has forgiven our sins and given us new life in Christ. He has given us the Holy Spirit and equipped us with Spiritual armor for our life now. He has rescued us from death and given us eternal life.

The last verse helps us understand the ways God has rescued us: ^“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22).

My Takeaway: In Romans 8: 1-2, the Apostle Paul added his “Yes and Amen” to David’s Psalm,

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” 

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.