Bible Memory Verse – Psalm 34:8 Context (3/10/2019)

Bible Memory Challenge
Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

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This is a lyric Psalm of David.  He wrote it during a time in his life when he needed rescued by God.  He’s younger at this point in his life, and is very well known because it wasn’t that long ago that he took down Goliath.  Because he’s so well known, king Saul put him in charge of his own army.  He went out and began winning battles with his army and eventually became so famous that people were writing songs comparing him to king Saul.  The songs would go something like this…

“Saul killed thousands but David killed tens of thousands!”

Saul wasn’t happy about this and became so jealous that he decided to have David killed.  David is now on the run for his life!  He flees to a city called Gath and, unfortunately for David, the king of Gath was a bit of a Saul supporter.  So, David “changed his behavior … and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard” (1 Samuel 21:13).  This was so that the King would not believe it was actually David.  The king fell for David’s scam, and he was set free.

I imagine that some point later in his life David reflected on this event and wrote about it in Psalm 34.  Keeping the context in mind, check out the first nine verses:

1 I will extol [to praise] the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory [to boast] in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt [praise] his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing. [Psalm 34:1-9, my additions]

The phrase “taste and see that the Lord is good” is used a couple times in the New Testament.  The writer of Hebrews and Peter both use it to talk about growing mature in our faith.  It’s supposed to be an active response on our part.  That’s what it means to “fear the Lord” – It’s us submitting to God and His way of living (Psalm 34:11-14).

This is why Pastor Mike will often mention the danger of complacency in his sermons.  The fact is that when we are content with not growing in our faith and just staying where we are, our enemies (the evil spiritual forces of wickedness) are happy.  But David is saying that true happiness (“blessed”) comes to the person who continually (v. 22) seeks God and the shelter He provides.

David concludes his Psalm by letting everyone know that whoever takes refuge in Yahweh God will not be found guilty.  He is very much talking about the forgiveness that God offers to those who are actively pursuing Him.  It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past!  David is saying, just pursue God.  Taste and see that the Lord is good, and when you do, you will find peace in Him.