(Devotion 23 in Sunday Table: 52 Weekly Devotions)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)
Our taste buds are constantly changing. Scientists say that taste buds change as frequently as every two weeks and that over the course of seven to ten years, around 10,000 taste buds in your mouth will have changed.1 This causes your food likes and dislikes to change too. Although, there will always be certain foods you never like. (For me, it is rutabagas. What about you?)
Sometimes, however, without regard to what our taste buds are doing, we actually determine whether we will like certain foods simply by how they look. The strong effect of appearance on appetite is a well-known consumer fact. This is why, for instance, a chef will carefully display a food item in a fancy dish and why major food companies spend millions of dollars yearly on the packaging of their product. Ever thought about how different your spending habits might be if everything on the grocery shelves came in a plain black-and-white box?
The chefs’ and the food companies’ goal is the same: to leverage the power of presentation to excite your appetite. To encourage you to see and then decide to taste.
But notice how the Psalmist David reverses that order when he describes our experiencing the goodness of the Lord.
This approach to evaluating the goodness of God runs counter to the window-shopping mentality of modern consumer culture. David is aware that we, as fallen humans, are incapable of rightly judging the Lord’s character from a distance. So, David invites us to experience God first and only then to evaluate his appearance, so to speak. To judge a book’s cover by its content, not vice versa.
It’s an invitation with a promise: taste first, and then you will see how good the Lord’s goodness really is.
What is involved in living a life of tasting and seeing the Lord’s goodness?
To taste and then see involves steps of faith. How often have we told our children or grandchildren, “Just try it; you will like it!” The way our children learn to trust us at our word, we must also learn to trust our heavenly Father at His. God promises us goodness. Our experience of that promise transforms our perspective. But for this transformation to take root, we must be willing to step forward in faith and actually taste the good presence of God. Then, we will see he has been telling the truth about Himself the whole time.
To taste and then see involves making value comparisons. Often, we know God’s goodness because we’ve already tasted what the world offers and found it bitter, stale, and dissatisfying. Once your spirit tastes the sweet- ness of God’s goodness, nothing else will ever compare! I have never heard anyone say, “I gave my life to Christ, but I wish I had waited longer.” I have, on the other hand, heard many say, “I wish I had given my life to Christ sooner.” His goodness satisfies like nothing else.
To taste and see involves maintaining our appetite for the things of God. People often lose their appetite when they’re sick or anxious. The food didn’t change; their desire for the food was blocked. In the spiritual realm, Satan will do everything in his power to block our appetite for God’s goodness by consuming our attention with something else—often the cares and worries of the world. Given too much attention, these can suffocate our desire for God and His goodness. We must be aware of this and keep our appetites strong by maintaining our spiritual focus.
Finally, to taste and see involves feasting on full portions. How many times have we put only a small amount on our spoon or fork when trying a new food for the first time? The Lord’s goodness cannot be adequately experienced in dabs and thimblefuls. Tiny, teasing bites will never be enough—our spirits will grow frustrated and rabid. Instead, we must sit at the Master’s table and enjoy His goodness, not starving or teasing our soul’s appetite, but feasting till full.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” (Psalm 23:5 NKJV)
Today and tomorrow and every day after, make your way to the Master’s table. Come not just for a spoonful or a morsel. Prepare your spirit for a feast. Drink deep from the cup overflowing with God’s goodness. Fill your heart to its content.
Allow God to be the One who “satisfies your mouth with good things.” (Psalm 103:5)
Daily Inspiration: “O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.” (A.W. Tozer)
Weekly Challenge: Sit at the Master’s table every day this week. Allow God’s Word to be food for your soul. The Psalms are of great help. Also, include the book of the Bible this week you enjoy reading the most. Allow the scriptures you read to provide spiritual nutrition for your soul.
Leader’s Corner: Find ways to encourage those who are seated near you at the Lord’s table. Those you worship with, study God’s Word with, or communicate with often. Iron sharpens iron, and so will you when you encourage one an- other through God’s Word.
Praying Scripture: “For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.” (Psalm 81:10)
Lord, thank you for rescuing me from a place of slavery and giving me free- dom to serve and worship you. Help me to open my heart wide and allow You to fill my life daily with good things from You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
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- Kidshealth.org, What are taste buds? ↩︎