Taste and See

We believe in an invisible God.

That can be a problem for us, because we prefer to trust in things we can see and put our hands on. We like the security of being surrounded by the people we love, the satisfaction of seeing our healthy bank balance, or the confidence of having physical strength.

We trust in what we see, even though it’s all going to fade.

The true God is invisible, but he’s not out-of-touch. He does things you can witness with your eyes, hear with your ears, and touch with your hands.

David tells us this in Psalm 34. He writes the Psalm about a time when he was fleeing from Saul, and he chose to take refuge in the land of the Philistines. Unfortunately, the Philistines soon realized who he was, and it looked like a sure demise for David. But God heard his prayers and graciously delivered him.

Now in verse 8, David praises the LORD for his steadfast care. At the same time, he wants everyone to share in the blessing of relying on God:

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

When David speaks here of tasting God’s goodness, this isn’t just dabbing your tongue on something to sample it. In the original Hebrew, it is a word that describes the savouring of a tasty meal. God’s goodness doesn’t come in small portions, but it’s like a generous feast!

We are allowed to experience this in Christ, who delivered us from the power of Satan and everlasting death. In the cross we have the greatest and most convincing proof of God’s love for sinners.

And God has given us a confirmation of that love in the Lord’s Supper. Whenever we share in the bread and wine, we have communion with Christ, and we are assured of the complete forgiveness of all our sins.

At the Lord’s Supper, God provides a feast with no expense spared. His goodness overflows to us, and his grace in Christ is like a never-ending buffet. At his table we can taste and see that the LORD is good!

That truth endures long after the sacrament, giving us a rich supply of comfort, satisfaction, and refreshment. The Lord says, “Though you can’t see me, I am with you always and I delight to bless you in my goodness. While I am a holy and heavenly God, I am also your loving Father in Christ.”

So the Spirit exhorts us every day: “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him.”

Take some time today to notice what the invisible God is doing in your life.

Taste and see it, and then keep trusting in his goodness and mercy, which is shown to you for Jesus’s sake.