Instruction
Scripture: Psalm 34:1-8
Many of the psalms do not reveal their origin. This one,
however, does. It was written by David, “when he changed his behavior before
Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.” This is likely a
reference to 1 Samuel 21:10-15. The long and the short of it is that David,
fleeing from King Saul, ended up in the land of his enemies, and by pretending
to be insane was saved.
This portion of the psalm is a prayer of praise which
proclaims God’s salvation. It serves us by reminding us of how God provided
salvation for His people in the past while giving us words with which to praise
Him in the present. As it does so it reveals attitudes and themes for praise.
Teaching
David had come through a difficult and dangerous experience.
His reflection upon that experience is one of profound gratitude and praise to
God for bringing him through it. As he looks at the whole of his life and sees
God’s faithfulness and salvation he says, “I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise will continually be in my mouth.” The protection he received changed
his perspective and made David want to always have God in his mind to bring Him
praise.
Verse 8 gives an interesting picture for how a person might
experience God’s goodness; David says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is
good!” He is, of course, speaking metaphorically here. In this case to taste
and see would be to experience and know God’s goodness. The invitation is to
check God out, because when one trusts in Him He will always satisfy our needs.
Life
We have an opportunity to taste and see that the LORD is
good that David never imagined. Certainly many people today still experience
deliverance from danger, illness, hardships, and other experiences that, in
retrospect, they look and recognize God’s blessing, and they are moved to
praise. However, David never had the opportunity to taste the good news of
God’s salvation in such a tangible form as the Lord’s Supper. When we eat and
drink Jesus’ body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine of the Holy
Communion we taste and see God’s goodness, mercy, love, and forgiveness.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Instruction and Petition.
O Lord, You taught David that You can be counted upon to
rescue him. We, too, have learned to trust in You for our salvation from
earthly danger, and, more importantly, from the danger of our sin. Every blessing
and praise belongs to You for the salvation You have given us in Jesus’ death
and resurrection, and our soul boasts in You and exalts Your name. We have
tasted and seen, O LORD, that You are good.
We pray that You would continue to help us know Your
goodness in every situation we find ourselves in. Help us to boldly and
beautifully bring You praise as we speak Your name, and may all come to magnify
Your name as glorious. Help us to seek You, knowing You will answer and deliver
us. Lord, the poor are still crying out in our world, we pray that You would
save them out of their troubles. And help us to fear, love and trust in You
above all things so that we would once again taste and see that you are good.
Amen.
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