8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Psalms 34:8-9

Explanation

We see another reason to praise the Lord together in verses 8 and 9.  We should praise God for how He provides.  

We are called to taste and see the goodness of God.  We all know what it is like to taste something delicious.  Things that taste good tend to have an incredible aroma.  Somehow our tasting and our smelling are linked.  I’m sure there is a scientific explanation.  The psalmist speaks of God’s goodness here as an objective reality.  If you experience the Lord, you will experience goodness.  You will be blessed.  His goodness is something in which we can trust.  

Often things that taste good, if consumed in high quantities, are things that may not be good for us.  It is not so with the Lord.  The more trust we put into Him, the more we obey Him, the more blessed we are.  We can trust in Him to provide all that we need.

Verse 9 gives us the command of fearing the Lord.  To fear the Lord is to properly view who He is.  To fear the Lord means that we prioritize His perspective on life, His view of us, and His commands over anyone else’s including ourselves.  The word “saints” here means those who have been sanctified, or set apart, by faith in Him.  What is the result of this fear and sanctification?  There is “no want for them that fear him.”  “Want” is lack.  Jesus said, Blessed is He that hungers and thirsts for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”  

Application

God’s tendency is to provide for and bless those that are obedient.  Is this because they are doing things His way, and the natural result is blessing from doing it His way, or does God literally bless people for obedience on a case by case basis?  The answer seems to be “yes”.  He does both.  There is the natural consequences of working according to how God set up the world.  This is God’s common grace.  Also, God is not some far off deistic being unconcerned with His creation.  Those who properly fear Him as Lord are “his saints” and He tends to bless those who fear Him.  We should praise God, today and every day, for His provision.  We should fear Him, and trust Him together.  

Response

God, I worship You today.  You have provided everything I have.  You are so good to me.  I do not deserve it.  I fear you today, and want to prioritize what you want.  I have tasted and seen that you are good.  I do trust you today.  Help me to grow in that fear, goodness, and trust.  Amen