TASTE AND SEE - part one

 

If you know me at all, you know that I like food. I truly appreciate fine dining and presentation. I imagine that most of you also appreciate a "nice plate" of your favorite dish. You can just about taste it before you even take a bite of food.  As you begin to read this, if you stop for a moment and imagine your favorite dish - main meal or desert, I bet your mouth will water for just a moment. AND quite often the food we think about is associated with an event or perhaps several events. It may be associated with a special place or restaurant.  Typically, these memories are GOOD and it's the GOOD that I want to explore today. 

Psalm 34:8 - David writes " Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him."

What? Is God something I can eat? How can I taste Him? What can this mean? Of course I ran to Merriam-Webster Dictionary and was pleasantly surprised to find the following information:

- it means the obvious: to eat or drink especially in small quantities; then it had these definitions as well:

- to perceive or recognize

- to become acquainted with by experience

- to appreciate and enjoy

- to have perception, experience and enjoyment; to PARTAKE of

NOW I see that verse in a new light - allow me to rewrite what David wrote 

Perceive, experience and enjoy God. Partake of His presence and relationship and see that God is good. You will be blessed as you trust him.

Understanding that God is good is fundamental to our ability to enjoy God and trust him. Today, like the word "love," good is reduced to someone's opinion and it's easy to attribute situations to God, label them as "not good" and before we know it, we begin to shape our theology (our thoughts about God) and begin to doubt that God is good. The next few posts are going to look at God's goodness so that we can increase in our knowledge of Him and increase our trust in His ability.

My first question for you - Do you believe that God is good?

Most of you have heard of Moses, either from reading the Bible or having seen the movie The Ten Commandments. Moses was tasked with leading millions of people out of Egypt to the promised land. It was an overwhelming job and Moses actually pitched a tent to meet with God about this. He was needing much reassurance about this job! You can read the details in Exodus 33. Moses implores the Lord to show him the way - remember, there were no maps or GPS. Moses and millions of others - men, women, children of ALL ages were in the middle of the desert. He wanted guidance and assurance. The Lord's response (verse 14) “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 

Moses continues to tell God how important it is that God go with them so that other nations will see that they are truly the People of God. I can picture God smile as he says (verse 17):“I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” 

This is just fantastic. Moses has already seen God's presence in the form of a Pillar of Fire by night and pillar of smoke by day when God led them out of Egypt. In addition, when God settled on Mt. Sinai in the presence of all the Israelite, He was spectacular  (Exodus19:18-20) with lightnings, thunderings, dark clouds and the sound of trumpets. Yet, in response to God's reassurance that His presence would go with them - Moses asked "Please show me your Glory" (Exodus 33:18-19)

Can you just hear the plea in his voice? Maybe that's the cry of your heart today. The desire to just KNOW that HE is WITH you. You know, God could have easily responded with "Look, I've shown you who I am, so just trust me" but instead, God's tender, wonderful Father heart says this: 

“I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you."

Moses asks for Glory and gets Goodness. When we read Exodus 34 we find that Moses has gone back up to Mt. Sinai with 2 more stone tablets so that God would write out the 10 commandments again. (Moses had broken he first two in great anger at the peoples' idolatry). An amazing picture of grace unfolds on the side of this mountain - 

God came to the mountain in a cloud and stood with him there. Then He began to proclaim His NAME to Moses. Don't miss this. Remember when Moses first encountered God in the burning bush Moses asked:                                           "WHO shall I say is sending me? What should I say when they ask me your name?"   God said to tell them : "I AM WHO I AM."

NOW - on the side of this same mountain God is ready to reveal Himself and tell Moses His name! God has come in a tender way - in a cloud, and as He stands with Moses, He simultaneously begins to proclaim His name and pass by. He's already told Moses that He will put him in the cleft of a rock and cover him with His hand - a Father's hand - while He passes by. The GOODNESS of God is too much to behold. In fact, to behold such goodness would kill Moses. So our good, good Father, answered Moses' prayer by protecting Him and revealing who He is. 

Moses responds in worship and repentance which gets another tender response from God - He renews the Promise of being Israel's God and says: (Exodus 34:10)

Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

As a result of Moses becoming acquainted with and partaking of God's goodness (tasting), his face became radiant. He reflected the goodness of God. In addition, he  trusted God to help him lead these people. 

Dear ones, no matter what hardships you may be facing - God truly is Good. Don't measure His goodness by your circumstances. I encourage you to cry out to Him - ask Him to show you His glory. Ask for His presence and reassurance. Look for good things today - ask Him to help you recognize and see signs of His Goodness (Psalm 86:17. 

Our prayer can be quite simple  Lord, show me your Goodness today, help me to taste and see that you are good so that I can trust You in my circumstances.