Grace World Outreach Church

TASTE AND SEE

Ps 34:1-8

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Radical Truth: HUNGER IS HOW WE RECEIVE FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD

David speaking from personal experience to the distressed, downcast, depressed and indebted who have rallied around him in the cave of Adullam gives six invitations to the desperate.

#1&2 BOAST AND BLESS THE LORD

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

David said His worship was…
- Conscious
- Constant
- Clear
- Celebration
- Contagious
- Corporate

Your works will not impress the Lord, but your worship can!

#3&4 SEEK AND FIND

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.

“To have found God and still be looking for God is the souls paradox of love” AW Tozer

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (James 4:7–8, ESV)

Prayer is our primary pathway for the pursuit of His Presence

David testifies when God answers He:
- Delivers from all fear (vs 4)
- Remove all shame (vs 5)
- Saves from all trouble (vs 6)

Remember the story of:
* The Canaanite woman who asked for Crumbs

"Then Jesus answered her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed instantly" (Matthew 15:28, ESV).

* The unclean woman who broke through the crowd

"Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well (Matthew 9:22, ESV).

* The centurion who just needed the command

"When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, 'Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.'" (Matthew 8:10, ESV).

Their religious rules would have prevented them from running to Jesus but it their desperation drove them to Jesus! Jesus honored the hunger!

Hunger is what we bring to the table!

# 5&6 TASTE AND SEE

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Why does David say, “Taste”?


"Because God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him. The imagery of tasting makes the point that experiencing God is a pleasant and pleasing and satisfying thing. Experiencing God feels good! We must therefore encounter God personally and not merely theorize about Him in our heads, for like honey, God is sweet to our souls, and like water, God brings refreshment when we are worn out, and like salt, He brings flavor to lives that are otherwise dull and lifeless and bland.” Sam Storms