Category Archives: God’s Protection and Care

“Taste and See God’s Goodness for Yourself” from Psalm 34 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 34:8

Psalm 34 is an invitation for joyful trust in the Lord. This psalm was written by David after God delivered him from the king of Gath in 1 Samuel 21:10-15 when he, as the inscription says “changed his behavior”, pretended to be out of his mind (1 Samuel 21:13). These events obviously had a profound impact on David’s life as the result is this overflow of his gratitude and praise. 

David begins with a commitment to continual worship: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (v. 1). He doesn’t stop at his own personal prayer, though; he calls others to join him and “magnify the Lord” with him and “exalt” the name of the Lord “together” (v. 3). Worship is meant to be shared communally, and our joy in God is deepened when we proclaim His goodness with others who have experienced it firsthand.

David shares his testimony from that event: “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4). God’s faithfulness is not theoretical for him but proven by his experience with God. It is also proven in David’s life as he says that those who trust the Lord “are radiant” (v. 5), reflecting His light and joy even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

One of the most well-known verses comes next in this psalm (v. 8): “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” This is more than an intellectual acknowledgment of God’s goodness but a call to come and experience it firsthand. Just as tasting food gives direct knowledge of its flavor, trusting the Lord allows us to personally experience His faithfulness and provision.

Speaking of firsthand experience, David confidently assures us that those who fear the Lord will lack nothing they truly need (vv. 9-10). Fear of the Lord is a common theme in Scripture and means having a reverence for Him, obeying Him, and trusting in His wisdom and care over our own. God is trustworthy. He watches over His people and hears their cries (v. 15), being “near to the brokenhearted” and saving “the crushed in spirit” (v. 18). Even and especially in affliction, God is present and faithful in “the afflictions of the righteous” and “delivers” them “out of them all” (v. 19). 

Psalm 34 concludes with the reminder that God is His people’s redeemer (v. 22). None – not a single one – of “those who take refuge in Him will be condemned (v. 22). That’s good news for those who take refuge in Him.

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 34

Psalm 34 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the One who fully tasted human suffering, yet remained without sin (Hebrews 4:15). John applies v. 20 (“He keeps all His bones; not one of them is broken”) to Jesus on the cross, showing Him as the righteous One who suffered on our behalf. 

Furthermore, part of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good for those who are saved is knowing that no one who takes refuge in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, will face condemnation (Romans 8:1). That’s good news!

Reflection

Have you personally tasted and seen the goodness of God in your life?

How have you been delivered from trials and suffering by the mighty hand of God?

Let Psalm 34 be an encouragement for you to experience the goodness of God firsthand. Take refuge in Him. Trust Him. Find comfort in His goodness and care.

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?

“Whom Shall I Fear If the Lord is My Stronghold?” from Psalm 27 (#dailyPSALMSchallenge)

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

Psalm 27 reflects confident trust in the Lord, even in the face of fear, opposition, and uncertainty. David declares that God is his light, salvation, and stronghold, assuring him ultimate safety and peace. This psalm is a beautiful and powerful tapestry of praise, prayer, and hope.

David begins by proclaiming unshakable confidence in God (vv. 1-3). He asks twice, “whom shall I fear?” (v. 1). He describes God as his light and salvation but also as his stronghold – a fortress in whom he can find refuge when his enemies rise up against him. He trusts God to protect him as well as causing his enemies to stumble and fall. 

David’s heart’s desire is revealed in v. 4: “One thing I have asked of the Lord…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” He longs for uninterrupted communion with God – eternally dwelling with him rather than seeking temporary shelter. For him, being in God’s presence – gazing upon His beauty and inquiring of His temple – is the ultimate source of joy and security.

David rejoices in the protective care of God who hides him in His shelter and also lifts him high upon a rock (vv. 5-6). David’s response to God’s care is to praise Him with shouts of joy and songs. 

In vv. 7-12, the psalm takes an intimate turn as David cries out to God for continued grace and deliverance. He pleads with Him not to hide His face or abandon Him, expressing a deep dependence on God as his help and salvation. Even when forsaken by all others, David has confidence that “The Lord will take [him] in” (v. 10).

Psalm 27 concludes with a bold statement and encouragement to wait on the Lord: “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!” (v. 13). The way the KJV translates v. 13 is helpful: “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”, meaning that David knew that he would have despaired and been hopeless without his belief and faith in God, faith that knew and trusted that he would see God’s goodness in the world and not as something he would have to wait on in heaven. Because of that he could encourage people to “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage” (v. 14).

Seeing Jesus in Psalm 27

Psalm 27 points to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of David’s longing for light, salvation, and communion with God. Jesus declared that He was “the Light of the World” (John 8:12). He is the true light who dispels the darkness of sin and death, bringing salvation to all who believe in Him. Jesus is also our stronghold, the One who secures our place in the presence of God. Through His death and resurrection, He opened the way to His heavenly sanctuary, where we can dwell with God forever (Hebrews 10:19-22).

David’s desire to “dwell in the house of the Lord” (v. 4) finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who enables believers to experience God’s presence through His Holy Spirit. In eternity, we will gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and worship Him face-to-face (Revelation 22:4).

When David cries, “My father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in” (v. 10), we are reminded of Jesus’s promise to never leave or forsake His people (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5). He is the faithful Savior who sustains us through every trial and assures us of eternal life in His presence. 

Reflection

Psalm 27 invites us to trust God in every circumstance, finding confidence, joy, and peace in His presence. Consider the following questions to help you reflect on what you’ve read.

How can you remind yourself of God’s light and salvation in times of fear and certainty?

Do you, like David, have a desire to dwell in the presence of God? What steps can you take to cultivate this desire?

In what ways has God demonstrated His faithfulness to you, even when others have let you down?

Take time today to praise God for being your light and salvation. Ask Him to increase your confidence in His care and help you wait patiently for His perfect will to unfold. Let the truth of this psalm strengthen your heart and encourage your soul as you continue to trust in Him!

The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.

Won’t you take the challenge?