Forty Days in the PsalmsSample

Do you remember the first time you saw the ocean? For me (Josh), it was Rehoboth Beach in Delaware when I was eight years old. After all these years, I can still vividly remember the sound of the seagulls, the smell of the salty air, and even the first mouthful of saltwater after getting pummeled by a rogue wave. I had heard about the ocean many times, but nothing could compare to seeing, hearing, and tasting it in person.

In Psalm 34:8, David says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.”

David knew that, like the ocean, a person could not fully experience God from a distance. If God is a Living God, He must be experienced in a living reality. It’s not enough to know that God is Good; you must taste His Goodness firsthand.

David is penning this Psalm on the run from people who want to kill him! His current reality was much more demanding than he may have expected when he was anointed as the next king. This challenging situation causes him to reflect on how real God has been to him over the years.

Look at the second half of Psalm 34:8 - "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"

Firsthand experience of God’s Goodness led David to run to Him as a refuge when times were tough. Experience builds trust. Just as it’s impossible to experience God from a distance, it’s also tough to trust God if you’ve only known Him from a distance. The Bible promises that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us. And as you get closer to God and His Mercy, you will find that David was onto something in Psalm 34. Once you’ve tasted God’s Mercy, you realize He’s Someone worth trusting.

RESPOND IN PRAYER:

Have you been content to know God from a distance? Pray for a desire to know Him more intimately. Which areas of your life are the hardest to trust God? Money, relationships, identity? Pray for God’s help to surrender this and trust His Goodness.