Taste and See

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:1-3, 8 ESV*

* All Scriptures are from the ESV, English Standard Version 2016

When you were a child, do you remember your mom or dad begging you to try a new food? Did you ever hear your parents say, “If you try it, you will like it!” This reminds me of an old Life cereal commercial with three brothers and one bowl of cereal.

The conversation went like this:

Boy 1: “What’s this stuff?”
Boy 2: “Some cereal. It's supposed to be good for you.”
Boy 1 (pushing the bowl away): “I’m not going to try it.”
Boy 2: “Let’s get Mikey.”
Boy 1: “He won’t eat it. He hates everything.”
Boy 2 (as Mikey takes a huge spoonful of cereal): “He likes it! Hey Mikey!”

The mental picture of that commercial reminds me of Psalm 34:8a, “Taste and see that the Lord is good….” What exactly does that scripture passage mean?

On the Surface

Imagine you're at a banquet, surrounded by the most delicious dishes you can imagine. There's a plate in front of you with a tantalizing aroma wafting up to your nose. You could sit there all day and listen to people describe how amazing the food is, but until you pick up your fork and take a bite, you'll never truly know its flavor.

I looked up the words “taste” and “see.” Taste means to become acquainted with, by experience. See means to discern visually. So if we were to read this verse with these definitions, it might read like this, “Become acquainted with the Lord by experiencing and visually discerning His goodness.”

We can hear about God's goodness from others, read about it in scripture, or listen to sermons expounding upon it. But until we personally experience His goodness, it remains theoretical. How do we move from a head knowledge of His goodness to a heart knowledge? Looking up the definitions made me do a little research on the science of how we taste and see.

Digging Deeper 

Taste buds have very sensitive microscopic hairs called microvilli (say: mye-kro-VILL-eye). Those tiny hairs send messages to the brain about how something tastes, so you know if it's sweet, sour, bitter, or salty. The average person has about 10,000 taste buds. Those tiny receptors on our tongues that allow us to experience the flavors of the world are constantly renewing themselves every two weeks. This means that the taste buds we had two weeks ago are not the same ones we have now. This process of renewal ensures that our sense of taste remains fresh and responsive, allowing us to fully enjoy the myriad of flavors around us.

Just as our taste buds are constantly renewing, we should be constantly renewing our minds with God's Word. We shouldn't rely solely on the spiritual nourishment we received weeks or months ago, but rather seek fresh encounters with God's truth regularly. Just as new taste buds allow us to experience flavors in new ways, diving into God's Word anew can reveal fresh insights, deeper understanding, and a renewed sense of His presence in our lives.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2

Our sense of sight is one of the most complex and remarkable abilities we possess. It allows us to perceive the world around us; discern colors, shapes, and textures; and navigate through life with clarity and understanding. 

Light enters the eye through the cornea, passes through the lens, and is focused onto the retina at the back of the eye. The retina contains millions of light-sensitive cells called photoreceptors, which convert light into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve, where they are interpreted and processed into the images we perceive.

Just as the eye requires regular exposure to light to maintain its function and health, our spiritual sight requires regular exposure to God's Word to stay sharp and vibrant. The more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the more our spiritual perception is sharpened, enabling us to discern God's will, understand His character, and navigate life with clarity and wisdom.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
I John 1:5-7

Application

How do we taste and see that the Lord is good? It starts with a relationship, and the only way to have a relationship with someone is to spend time with them. Just as sharing a meal with a friend deepens your connection, spending time with God through prayer, worship, and meditation on His Word deepens your relationship with Him.

In all the translations of this verse, the word “taste” always comes before “see.” You have to actually taste His goodness before you can see it. You have to become acquainted with Christ by experience before you can visually discern Him with clarity.

As we draw near to God, we begin to experience His goodness in tangible ways. Maybe it's the overwhelming sense of peace that floods your soul in the midst of chaos. Perhaps it's the unexpected provision that arrives at just the right moment. Or it could be the profound joy that fills your heart in good times and bad.

When we taste and see that the Lord is good, we're not just acknowledging His existence or affirming a doctrinal statement. We're encountering His Presence in a way that transforms us from the inside out.

Prayer

Spend some time reflecting on the areas where you have neglected to taste and see. Maybe you have neglected to spend time savoring His word through the scriptures so you are not constantly renewing your mind. Pray for your desire and time with Him to grow. Or, maybe you are going through the motions of every day, not looking for His awesome work in and through you. Ask the Holy Spirit to not only open your eyes to new truths about God, but also to have eyes to see how He is working around you in the everyday moments of your life.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:103-105