5. Trusting the Taste of the Lord God Psalm 34:8

Text:  “As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

1 Peter 2:2-3.

          “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth (trusts and continues to trust) in Him.” 

Psalm 34:8.

Good morning, well satisfied Christian!  You, like the author - in the times before our conversion to Christ Jesus - have tasted most of what the world, the flesh, and the Devil can offer, yet found no satisfaction until we tasted and soon seen that the Lord Jesus was good indeed.  There is no true and lasting satisfaction found for the human soul outside of the risen Christ Jesus, and this great Salvation He alone can give.  Praise His Name!

The old adage informs us that ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating.’  In other words, we cannot prove if the pudding tastes good without first eating a little of it before we make our judgement on the quality of the product.  This is common sense.

In the Spiritual realm, the principle remains very similar.  We cannot know how satisfying Salvation is without first encountering and submitting to the risen Lord Jesus Christ.  Once we get a deep taste of Him, all else pales into insignificance.  True satisfaction is found in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.  Fact.

Verse 8.  “O taste and see that the Lord is good.  Our senses help our understanding; we cannot by the most rational discourse perceive what the sweetness of honey is; taste it and you shall perceive it.”  (Richard Alleine, in ‘Heaven Opened’ 1611-1691)

Ever try to introduce a new born babe to the taste of something new; something other than its mother’s milk?  Indeed.  The little face wrinkles up, the tongue protests, and the entire face is screwed up tight in revulsion at this new and foreign taste.  Taste, in the natural realm, is a powerful sense indeed. 

Taste in the Spiritual sense, is similarly powerful, and has Eternal consequences.  Spiritual discernment is exercising a ‘taste’ for genuine Spiritual beliefs, ideas, doctrines, God’s truths.  We are called by God to ‘…test the spirits…’                   (1 John 4:1)

It is similar when one is permitted by God’s grace to ’taste’ the wonder of God’s Holy Word, receive faith to believe; and come to receive Christ as Saviour and Lord.  Nothing else can match the taste of Salvation in Christ; in Him and His Cross alone.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for allowing us to taste of your great and Holy Salvation grace, found only in the Name of sweet Jesus Christ.  Praise His Holy Name!

Verse 8.  “O taste and see that the Lord is good.  It is not enough for thee to see it afar off, and not have it, as Dives did; or to have it in thee, and not to taste it, as Samson’s lion had great store of honey in him, but tasted no sweetness of it; but thou must as well have it as see it, and as well taste it as have it.”  (Thomas Playfere 1633)

So many millions throughout history have enjoyed the common grace of God in seeing clearly the way of His great Salvation in Christ.  Yet, not being elect of the Father, were never given to the Son in Eternity; and, not receiving God’s gift of faith with which to believe, were Eternally lost in reprobation.  One must be granted a ’taste’ of Christ by faith, if one is ever to truly find redemption in Him.

“All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  (John 6:37)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The young ruler came and tasted that Christ was good, yet went away lost and unaffected - for He was never given God’s gift of saving faith; he never trusted in Christ Jesus to save him.  So sad to see so many, today, trusting in their temporal riches, at the expense of the loss of their never-dying souls.  (Matthew 19:16-22)

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, that for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”  (Matthew 19:23-24)

The young ruler had a taste for worldly riches, but no taste for Christ Jesus  and went away ‘sorrowful; for he had great possessions.’  (Matthew 19:22)  He had been ‘enlightened’ by Christ of his need to follow Him; had ‘tasted’ of the goodness of God through His Son’s ministry to him - yet allowed his ‘great possessions’ to rob him of the Eternal blessings of the Lord God. 

The writer of the book of Hebrews mentions such deluded souls who had a ‘taste’ for Heavenly things, partook of the general call to Salvation of God the Holy Ghost - yet fell away due to lack of true saving faith and God-given repentance.  In doing so, they ’…crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh…’ and were Eternally lost. (Hebrews 6:4-6)  What an Eternal tragedy!

Thought:  God alone gives ‘His people’ a Spiritual hunger for Christ Jesus, quickens us with saving faith, and draws us to feast upon the risen Lord in full Salvation.  ‘How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer‘s ear!’  Christ alone can satisfy our taste.  Oh, come, let us adore Him.