“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)

This verse gives us an unusual verb for knowing God. The same verb is used by the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 6:5 in speaking of the word of God. The psalmist and Peter (1 Peter 2:3) both use the verb in relation to God. The psalmist in the sense of doing it and Peter in the sense of having done it.

How does the tasting work? How do you taste God? When you look at all three of the mentioned passages of scripture, it seems that the writers are describing a trial or testing of God. Giving God a chance to prove He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do makes sense of the psalm.

When we are introduced to a new fruit or other dish and are wary of it, we are usually told, “Just taste it.” So the psalmist is saying to those who haven’t been partaking of the Holy One, just taste Him. Give Him a good look. Because when you do, the psalmist says, you will find that God is good. By giving yourself to God, nothing but good can come of it. Blessings flow down on the one who is surrendering to God. Try God. Peter says, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good,” then devour His word and grow up into salvation. If you have tasted the Lord, you will surely find that He is good.

The psalms mention using God as a refuge a lot. The people of that age lived in very troubled times, surrounded by bitter enemies and foes. Deliverance and salvation from enemies was a constant need, and the psalmist realized that God was a present help in every case. He is still the best refuge for the struggling believer.

Task for Today: Taste God by all means. Eat His word, trust His promises, give Him your life. You will find that He is good and that He will do good to you. In a world of conflict and trouble, God is the only sure refuge so seek Him as your hiding place.