Todays readings.. Genesis 30, Psalm 34, Matthew 20

“OH, TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD” 

Our 34^th Psalm of David today is wonderfully spiritually stimulating; it is one to be memorised, at least in part. “Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!” [v.9]   David can write this from his own experience – he is one of the primary example to us that the scriptures record.  David also said, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man (or woman) who takes refuge in him!”

To “taste” is to personally venture to experience – a little – and having tasted – to eat and enjoy!  Let us meditate on the spiritual application.  It is sad to see some apparently satisfied by a little tasting, but that is not enough for us “to take refuge” in him when our godless world really starts to fall apart! 

When Paul visited Athens he told them about “the unknown God” to whom they had made “an altar.” [Acts 17 v.23] telling them, “they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way towarad him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ “ [v.27,28]  It is clear that David – wonderfully – discovered this wondrous truth, this reality!  And us?

Back in our Psalm we must ‘absorb’ David’s perception of the unseen!  Are we developing his vision?  “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” [v.7]   We must deeply [ponder how all who are alive as our Lord “descends from heaven with a shout”  will need this vision – for it is a vision that will be turned into reality at that awesome time.  How soon now? 

David perceived, from experience that “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry…. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. “[v.15,17] Consider his state of mind as he went out to meet Goliath!

What troubles our world will soon experience! Paul told the Thessalonians (and us) “the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel… And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them … to meet the Lord”[1 Thess. 4 v.16,17].

This will be the most wonderful time when the faithful will dramatically  “taste and see that the LORD is good!” Will we be there?  ‘We make the answer now!’