Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good

It is likely no coincidence that this verse from Psalm 34:8a stood out to me,  from this morning's readings. We were recently discussing the difficulty of the fourth step of twelve-step programs “made a fearless moral inventory.”   This is notoriously difficult, and where, because of the  difficulties,  many drop out. Or they may need to revisit the previous steps. The process is broken down into steps for a reason.  After we come out of the denial that we have a problem (step 1),  we come to believe that God can deliver us from the insanity of our lives (step 2).  We then make  a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God (step 3).   After the fall, the Lord tweaked reality so that   our poor choices would have consequences.  This is designed to show us our need of Him (the ground is cursed for your sake Genesis 3:17 NKJV).  In order to live with ourselves when we make  poor choices, we suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). And part of this,  is that we suppress the knowledge of God. We need to come back to believing that He is, that He is good, and that He can deliver us.  In other words the first three steps describe the process of coming out of darkness into His glorious light (1 Peter 2:9). And it is a process!

One of the advantages of twelve-step programs, as opposed to one on one counselling, is that we come together with those who are in various stages of coming out of darkness into His light.  Hearing the testimony of those who have found freedom by going  through the fourth step,  can encourage us to press on, even thought is it difficult.  This morning's Psalm is such a testimony.  As with all testimonies it comes with the invitation to “taste and see the Lord is good.”  David tells us that he sought the Lord and He heard him, and delivered him from all his fears (verse 4).  The fears in the “fearless moral inventory” likely includes the fear of judgement and condemnation.  But the Lord is good, and His mercies endure for ever. And when we confess our sins to Him He forgives us,  and starts the process of cleaning us up from the mess we got ourselves onto. And we are then free from condemnation  (Psalm 100:5; 1 John1:9; Romans 8:1).

This freedom is no small thing.  David describes the process as looking to Lord, and the effect is that “their face were radiant” (verse 5) i.e. peace and joy.  The type of fear  from which David was delivered in verse 4,  has to do with dread and terror. On the other hand when he tells us to  “ fear the LORD, you His saints” in verse 9, this fear has more to do with awe,  reverence and honour. He goes on to tell us that with this type of fear there is no want.   And in verse 10 he tells that “those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.”  So we are to seek, fear and taste!

Father it is good and right and proper that we should have this second kind of fear, because it puts us in right relationship with You.  We need to taste and see Lord, to experience Your goodness. When we do this, we will have courage  to ask You to search our hearts and show us what we need to see in our fearless moral inventory. In Jesus Name Amen