“Taste and see that the Lord is good”: a devotional on Psalm 34

David had just pretended to be insane. According to the heading of Psalm 34, he wrote it after escaping from a Philistine king by acting like a madman, scratching at doors and letting saliva run down his beard. It was a humiliating escape. Yet the psalm that came out of it is full of praise.

He answered me

The psalm begins: “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” David invites others to join him: “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” Praise is shared, not private. Verse 4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” David does not say God removed every danger. He says God delivered him from his fears.

Taste and see

Verse 5: “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Looking to God changes how a person carries themselves, even after embarrassment.

Verse 8 is the psalm’s most famous line: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Tasting is personal. Nobody can taste for you. The verse invites people to experience God’s goodness for themselves rather than only hearing about it.

Close to the brokenhearted

Verse 18 offers deep comfort: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” When grief or disappointment leaves people feeling far from God, this verse says the opposite is true. Verse 19 is honest: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Faith does not guarantee a life without trouble. It promises that trouble will not have the last word.

Verse 20 says God protects all the bones of the righteous, “not one of them will be broken”. John’s Gospel later connects this to Jesus at the crucifixion, when his legs were not broken.

Prayer

Verse 11 invites children to learn “the fear of the Lord”, and the following verses describe it: keeping your tongue from evil, turning from wrong and seeking peace. Fear here means reverence, not terror. Lord, I will bless you at all times. Thank you for answering when I seek you and for delivering me from my fears. Help me taste your goodness for myself. Be close to me when my heart is broken. Amen.