Scripture Sunday: Taste and See

Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor soul cried and was heard by the LORD and was saved from every trouble.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
​22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned

Have you ever had someone tell you about a food they like, but you’re just not sure it sounds good? Many people react this way when I tell them about my favorite pizza: banana with curry. They make faces and laugh, saying how gross it sounds. But I urge them, don’t knock it until you try it. I’ll make it for you, and then you can taste and see that it’s good.

The Psalmist picks up on a similar idea—though obviously with much more weight. The Psalmist seems to be saying, "Hey, I know you may have heard things about God that you’re unsure of, or you may find it hard to trust in your suffering. But I urge you, don’t walk away. Taste and see that the Lord is good." The poor soul finds relief, the weak find protection in the Lord their refuge, and God will redeem all their lives from evil.

The promise made to Israel was based on this same idea. God told Moses that God had come down to “rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). How would Israel know that God was good and kept God’s promises? By tasting the milk and honey and seeing the fertility of the land, a spacious place where the needs of all who lived there were met. God’s goodness is seen in a healthy creation.
When speaking of the future of His kingdom, Jesus shares the image of a great banquet where the outcast and poor are welcomed to share in a feast with the King. In Revelation, we are told that we will join in the wedding supper of the Lamb (19:9). The future promises of God are also based on tasting and seeing. These celebrations affirm Jesus’ victory over sin and death, a feast of great abundance, indicating that creation is spacious and productive.

We now live in anticipation of this great feast. Like the Psalmist, we have not yet entered our full rest. There is still evil in the world that we need protection from. In many places, there is a shortage of food, and people are dying from starvation and dehydration. Creation often seems unhealthy and unproductive. At times, we may wonder, how can I taste and see that the Lord is good amidst so much trouble? The psalmist recognizes this tension, showing that the Lord both rescues now—physically and/or spiritually—and that sometimes, we must wait until the heavenly banquet. What is certain is that all who call upon the name of the Lord will eventually taste and see; it’s not a question of if, but when. 
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In our waiting, we are still invited to taste and see the goodness of God in the meal of the Last Supper. We are reminded that Jesus loves us so much that He died for us. We taste this love in the bread and wine; we see it in the breaking and the shedding. We leave the table empowered by His forgiveness and inner healing to pray boldly and act courageously. We plant gardens, advocate for farmers and forests, dig wells, provide water and shelter, donate clothes, buy second-hand—the list goes on in the ways we can partner with God to maintain a healthy creation. There are countless opportunities to help others taste and see the promises of God’s goodness here and now. Like the Psalmist, I urge you to trust in God’s goodness and to share how you have experienced it– encouraging hope in others. 



Caroline Hiler is a Seminary Intern at Creation Justice Ministries