Taste and See That the Lord Is Good (Psalm 34) | Charles Spurgeon

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 34Psalm 34 is described as a "well-carved memorial" composed by David to commemorate his escape from the Philistine king, Abimelech. Although the historical context involves David feigning madness—an act reflecting little credit on his character—the Psalm ignores his own folly to focus entirely on God’s mercy and deliverance. It is a meticulously structured alphabetical Psalm, divided into two primary sections: a hymn of praise (verses 1–10) and a didactic sermon (verses 11–22).In the first section, David vows to bless the Lord "at all times," asserting that gratitude should be constant, regardless of whether one's circumstances are bright or dark. He invites the "humble" to join him in magnifying the Lord, suggesting that holy boasting in God serves to encourage and solace others. David provides personal testimony, referring to himself as a "poor man" who cried out and was heard. A central theme here is the Angel of the Lord, who provides an invisible but potent guard for the godly. David concludes this section with the famous invitation to "taste and see" that the Lord is good, emphasizing that spiritual truths must be experienced through vital, inward participation rather than mere intellectual study.The second half of the Psalm shifts to instruction, where David teaches "children"—or disciples—the fear of the Lord. This fear is portrayed not as terror, but as a filial reverence that leads to practical morality. This includes guarding the tongue from guile, departing from evil, and actively pursuing peace. David offers profound comfort to the suffering, noting that while the righteous face "many afflictions," the Lord is uniquely nigh to the brokenhearted. While evil eventually slays the wicked, the Lord redeems the souls of His servants, "keeping their bones" so that no essential part of their spiritual being is ever truly broken or lost.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730