#DailyDevotion Taste And See The LORD Is Good!
Psalm 34 7The Angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him and rescues them. 8Taste and see how good the LORD is; happy is the man who takes refuge in Him.
The Angel of the LORD is a mysterious character in the Old Testament. He is distinct from the LORD but is worshiped as the LORD would be worshiped. He speaks as the LORD. For all purposes He is the LORD. For this reason, we believe the Angel of the LORD is the pre-incarnate Christ, who is Jesus to us. Even here in verse 7 we are told to fear the Angel of the LORD. Such fear belongs to the LORD alone. So when you read “the Angel of the LORD,” you can then understand this is Jesus interacting with His people and for His people.
Now He camps around and rescues those who fear Him. He stands between us and all evil forces who want to cause us harm. It’s not as visible as the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He is not limited by time and space.
He calls us to taste and see how good the LORD is. This is parallel to taking refuge in the LORD. To take refuge in the LORD is similar to tasting to see how good He is. Before we can see how good the LORD is we must trust Him. Those who trust in Him will not be disappointed. By this then we can turn our direction to the LORD’s Supper, where He gives us His body and blood. Here, having trusted in Him and being joined to Him in the waters of baptism, He strengthens us with His New Testament. Here we see how good the LORD is towards us as we remember His death for our sake. We remember what He endured to rescue us from sin, death and the power of the devil. Here we take refuge in His thorn crowned head, His nail pierced hands and feet, and His spear pierced side. We know the charges against us, the guilt and the curse of the Law is nailed to the cross in the body of the LORD Jesus Christ.
9Fear the LORD, you who are His holy ones; fear Him, and you will lack nothing. 10Young lions may be in need and go hungry, but those who go to the LORD for help have every good thing.
You, His holy ones, are those who have been gathered to Him in the waters of holy baptism. You are called to fear the LORD. We have a promise here: “you will lack nothing.” Jesus made a similar promise in Matt. 6, 31“Don’t worry, then, and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or, ‘What are we going to drink? or, ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32The people of the world run after all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need them all. 33Seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you, too.” Seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness is therefore part of what fearing the LORD is. The psalm in a few verses will expand upon “fearing the LORD.”
They say financial problems cause many families to break up. They cause us to do a lot of sinful things at times because we don’t trust the LORD to take care of us. Sometimes this is due to not being content. Paul says in Phil. 4, “11I’m not saying I need anything. I’ve learned to be content whatever my condition…13I can do everything through Him Who gives me the strength.” In 1 Tim. 6 he writes, “8If we have food and clothing, we should be satisfied.” So while lions may grow hungry from lack of food, we need not fear that if we fear the LORD. He promises us we will have every good thing.
Merciful God and Father, so bring into our heart proper fear and trust in you, so we may not fear the assaults of our adversaries nor the pangs of hunger. Grant us a spirit of contentment trusting in your great promises. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.