What does it mean to 'taste and see that the Lord is good' in Psalm 34:8?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The metaphor of consuming what the Lord offers as one might consume or taste a food is used throughout Scripture. Psalm 34:8 invites readers to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” David, the psalmist, encourages readers to experience God for themselves so they will know His goodness. Throughout this psalm, David praises God for the many ways He consistently cares for His children. These include answering prayer (Psalm 34:4), delivering us from fear and trouble (Psalm 34:4, 17), being near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), saving the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18), and redeeming us from condemnation (Psalm 34:22). The psalmist is confident that anyone who “tastes” of God will discover these blessings. Besides this psalm, the Bible presents similar comparisons between nourishment that sustains life temporarily and spiritual food and drink that sustains life eternally. Jesus called Himself the “bread of life” and compared His presence to the physical manna that God provided to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament (John 6:48–50). The Bible teaches that we should consume and share the spiritual nourishment the Lord provides and invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” The metaphor of tasting is used to invite people to experience the goodness of God for themselves. The psalmist is confident that those who taste the Lord will be satisfied.
• Exodus 16 describes the manna that God provided for His people in the wilderness. This miraculous bread of Heaven manifested “the glory of the Lord” (Exodus 16:7). The Israelites were physically nourished by it. It serves as a symbol of the spiritual nourishment we get through Christ, the Bread of Life.
• Psalm 119:103 also presents the metaphor of tasting to experience the Lord. In praising the Lord, the psalmist exclaims, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” The contrast here shows that physical food is less satisfying than the eternally sustaining spiritual food from the Lord.
• Isaiah 55:1–2 uses the food/drink metaphor to convey the free gift of God’s love and mercy: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” Through Isaiah, the Lord contrasts “that which does not satisfy” with the fully satisfying spiritual food that only the Lord can provide. He offers it freely—to “buy . . . without money” (v. 1). Like Psalm 34:8, this passage from Isaiah presents God’s Word as more satisfying than any food or drink.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus often used the metaphor of physical food and drink to illustrate the superior spiritual nourishment He offers. In John 4:13–14, Jesus says to the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We cannot live long without physical water. Jesus’ comparison here shows that we cannot have life everlasting without the “living water” only He can provide.
• This is further illustrated in John 6:48–50 when Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.” Food and drink sustain us temporarily; we consume it daily, yet we eventually die. What Jesus offers is eternal life by partaking of Him, the “bread of life.” Only Christ offers this superior, eternal nourishment.
• Jesus reinforces this when He says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Just as the psalmist invites readers to experience God by tasting Him, Jesus invites us to consume Him who offers eternally sustaining spiritual food. Without it, we are spiritually starved.
• The apostle Peter uses language similar to that of Psalm 34:8 to express a similar message about experiencing God: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2–3). We can only mature spiritually— “grow in salvation”—if we taste God and experience His goodness.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

In developed nations today, people rarely fear famine. Abundant food is offered by going to a nearby grocery store. We satisfy our thirst with a turn of the faucet handle. But still, many today will die of spiritual starvation and thirst. Some ignore or reject the “living water” and “bread of life” (John 4:13–14; 6:48–50) that would satisfy them eternally. Many people wouldn’t think of forgoing physical nourishment for days, but they will go about their daily lives without consuming any spiritual nourishment. Do you start your day with prayer? Do you consume God’s Word daily? If not, you’re missing the most important meal of the day: the abundant, free sustenance from God, the One who knows our needs better than we do. We must taste God daily using the means He has provided for us: Bible study, prayer, worship, fellowship with other believers. Sharing this spiritual food and drink with unbelievers is also vital. Feeding the poor is part of the spiritual fruit of Christianity (Matthew 25:40–45), but sharing the truth about Christ is even more important as it leads to life everlasting. To experience that, we must consume and share the spiritual nourishment our Lord provides.

UNDERSTAND

• Psalm 34:8 invites us to personally experience God's goodness.
• Jesus offers Himself as the eternal "bread of life" and "living water."
• God's goodness provides lasting spiritual satisfaction, unlike temporary earthly pleasures.

REFLECT

• How have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good in your own life (in both His character and actions)?
• How has tasting the spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers impacted your walk with Him?
• How can you make a habit of "tasting and seeing" God's goodness in your routine?

ENGAGE

• How can we create habits of helping others taste and see that the Lord is good?
• What are some practical ways we can help others experience the spiritual satisfaction that comes from God?
• How does the concept of eternal nourishment contrast with the temporary fulfillment of earthly pleasures in your life and decisions?