Taste and See the Lord is Good!

In celebration and in honor of what God has done in healing my mom from the injuries she sustained in her fall a year ago, I wanted to focus on Psalm 34 for our Psalm Saturday edition this week.

David penned Psalm 34 after he escaped from Gath. We see him reflect on God’s goodness, praising the Lord for His faithfulness in delivering His people from trouble. David exults the Lord and calls on all God’s people to lift up praises to Him.

As a believer, I wonder how successfully I live out verse 1. Do you? It’s one thing to praise God when things are good, but as I’m sure you’ve experienced too, it can be difficult to remember to continue praising the Lord during a storm.

We can trust that God hears and responds to our prayers because David reminds us here, as he does so many times in Psalms, that he has personally experienced the Lord answering his cries for help in times of great distress. In our 21st century culture, overrun with busyness and overwhelmed by noise, it may be hard to see, hear, and taste God.

Yet, He is there.

Mom falling and breaking her ankle in multiple places came on the heels of saying farewell to my friend Mark, a beloved and godly man who modeled Christ for so many of us. Emotionally it was a dark time whose clouds I feel I’m just now emerging out from under.

Today, I’m overjoyed that Mom is completely healed and that the Lord continues to bless her, love her, watch over her, and care for her. She is a blessing to a ton of folks, including me. Her joyous spirit remains strong and vibrant, showering love on all those who know her. She is a faithful friend. She has a kind heart and is thoughtful of others, calling them on their birthdays, sending them cards on special occasions. She is determined and resilient. A lifelong learner, she continues to work on her craft as an artist. She loves people and she loves the Lord.

Yes, taste and see that the Lord is good. Indeed, He is.

Psalm 34 New Living Translation (NLT)

A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away.

1 I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the Lord;
    let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
    let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
    he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
    for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me,
    and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
12 Does anyone want to live a life
    that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
    his ears are open to their cries for help.
16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
    he will erase their memory from the earth.
17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
    He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
    not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

For my upcoming birthday this year, I’m asking for donations to Trusted World. I’ve chosen this nonprofit because I know their CEO personally and I know that the TW team will put any funds raised to excellent use.
I believe in Trusted World’s mission and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal.

If you’d like to donate you can do so here.