In the early morning on 07/FEB/2020 the Holy Spirit spoke, "Taste that His Mercies are Good"---"His Mercies Last Forever"---"His Angels Go Before You!" I'm going to unpack the words that were given to me by finding and applying the meaning through scripture and other bible studies.
The phrase “taste and see that the Lord is good” is a direct quote from verse 8 of Psalm 34.
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Tasting and Seeing - In seventeen words, David instructs and encourages the people. First, he implores them to seek the Lord and to know His goodness (8a). Then David tells them that they will be blessed by trusting (8b). And of course, we know that trust is produced by knowing God’s goodness (8a).
The words “Taste and See” are sensual and experiential. They are sensual in that they describe the actions of two of our God-given senses. How do we “taste and see” that the Lord is good? Before tasting anything, we must eat something. Before eating something, we must “see” the food. From the beginning, God gave man food to see and to eat (taste).
Adam was created with a natural hunger for food, so God gave him the produce of the Garden to satisfy his hunger. God also created Adam with a spiritual hunger that only He could satisfy through an intimate relationship that included direct communication (God spoke directly to Adam). This relationship established Adam’s heart and fueled his works.
Hunger for Food - As Christians, we also are united to God in a personal relationship and we hunger to know Him better and to love Him more. When our sight is clear, we will “taste” fully of the goodness of God and we will fully know Him.
Tasting Before Seeing - Psalm 34:8 clearly tells us to taste first and then to see His goodness. How do we “taste” of His goodness? I suggest it is by the water, milk, and meat of the Holy Scriptures. “Water, milk, and meat” are used in Scripture as word pictures for God’s Word. Water - John 4:10; John 4:13-14 Milk and Meat - 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-13
Taste and See that the Lord is Good - All Christians, from the time of their new birth, are to hunger for the word. Peter likens this hunger to that of a newborn baby. A newborn baby does not need to be taught to hunger, to cry out for milk. The natural hunger is internally experienced and they make their voice heard.
As Christians, God expects that we are to hunger internally for His Word. Because His Word nourishes our souls, when we hunger, we are to cry out in desire and in need for the pure word and faithful teachings so that we will grow spiritually and so that we will “taste and see” the goodness and grace of our God. 1 Peter 2:2-3; Psalm 119:103
Tasting produces Seeing - Paul wrote to the Ephesian church about the importance of “tasting” the Word. In seeking knowledge of God comes wisdom and revelation. That “tasting” produces knowledge of Jesus that gives sight. Ephesians 1:17-19;
In Conclusion: Psalm 34 continues with David instructing the people of Israel about life in accordance with God’s will and ways (v 9-14). Psa 34:9-15
Psalm 34 closes with David reminding them of what they “tasted and saw” — the Lord is good. Psa 34:16-22
"Psalm 136 - His Saving Love
1 Let everyone thank God, for he is good, and he is easy to please!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
2 Give thanks to God, our King over all gods!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
3 Give thanks to the Lord over all lords!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
4 Give thanks to the only miracle working God!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
5 Give thanks to the Creator who made the heavens with wisdom![a]
His tender love for us continues on forever!
6 To him who formed dry ground, raising it up from the sea!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
7 Praise the one who created every heavenly light!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
8 He set the sun in the sky to rule over day!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
9 Praise him who set in place the moon and stars to rule over the night!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
10 Give thanks to God, who struck down the firstborn in Egypt!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
11 He brought his people out of Egypt with miracles!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
12 With his mighty power he brought them out!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
13 He split open the Red Sea for them!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
14 And led his people right through the middle!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
15 He vanquished Pharaoh’s armies, drowning them all!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
16 He led his people through the wilderness!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
17 He’s the one who smashed mighty kingdoms!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
18 He triumphed over powerful kings who stood in his way!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
19 He conquered Sihon, king of the Amorites!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
20 He conquered the giant named Og, king of Bashan![b]
His tender love for us continues on forever!
21 Then he gave away their lands as an inheritance!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
22 For he handed it all over to Israel, his beloved!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
23 He’s the God who chose us when we were nothing!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
24 He has rescued us from the power of our enemies!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
25 He provides food for hungry men and animals!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
26 Give thanks to the great God of the heavens!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
~The Passion Translation (TPT)
Hebrews 13:15 The Passion Translation (TPT)
15 So we no longer offer up a steady stream of blood sacrifices, but through Jesus, we will offer up to God a steady stream of praise sacrifices—these are “the lambs”[a] we offer from our lips that celebrate his name![b] Footnotes: Hebrews 13:15 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “the fruit of” our lips. See Ps. 50:14, 23.
Luke 22:25 The Passion Translation (TPT)
25 Jesus interrupted their argument, saying, “The kings and men of authority in this world rule oppressively over their subjects, claiming that they do it for the good of the people. They are obsessed with how others see them.[a] Footnotes: Luke 22:25 The Aramaic is actually “They want to be called ‘servants of goodness.’”
Romans 9:23 The Passion Translation (TPT)
23 And doesn’t he also have the right[a] to release the revelation of the wealth of his glory to his vessels of mercy, whom God prepared beforehand to receive his glory?
Mike Livingstone a content editor at LifeWay for Explore the Bible resources wrote:
WHOSE LOVE IS THIS?
This is God’s love. Look at the names used for God in the first verses: “Lord” (v. 1), “God of gods” (v. 2), and “Lord of lords” (v. 3). The name “Lord” in verse 1 is Yahweh, God’s personal name; the name He revealed to Moses in Exodus 3 and a form of the verb “I am.” It points to God as eternal, self-existent, holy, and yet graciously choosing to reveal Himself and enter into a relationship with us. “God” in verse 2 is Elohim, pointing His absolute, sovereign rule over creation and history; it is the word for God in Genesis 1. The word “Lord” in verse 3 is Adonai, further extoling His absolute authority. We are reminded here of Revelation 19:16, where Jesus is called “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This is who loves you.
WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS THIS?
The Hebrew word used for love in every verse of this psalm is Chesed. This kind of love is difficult to translate with one word—it is faithful, unchanging, gracious, compassionate, and kind. It is a love based on who He is, not on our worthiness. It is also a love that “endures forever”; it never quits. You never have to worry that God will stop loving you—no matter what.
HOW IS THIS LOVE DEMONSTRATED?
The first line of verses 4-25 recounts the mighty works of God from creation to the exodus to the conquest of Canaan and the ongoing work of God. God has repeatedly demonstrated His love. In every instance cited in the psalm, His deliverance or provision on behalf of His people was a demonstration of grace, not a reward for the people’s goodness.
God has shown us the depth of His love for us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). If your circumstances ever cause you to doubt God’s love for you, just look at the cross and know how much God loves you: “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). That is something to sing about!
It’s worth repeating—even twenty-six times: His faithful love endures forever.
SAFE AND SECURE
91 When you sit enthroned[a] under the shadow of Shaddai,[b]
you are hidden[c] in the strength of God Most High.
2 He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me,
the only God for me, and my great confidence.
3 He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy,[d]
and he will protect you from false accusation
and any deadly curse.[e]
4 His massive arms[f] are wrapped around you, protecting you.
You can run under his covering of majesty and hide.
His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.
5 You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night
nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.
6 Don’t fear a thing!
Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you,[g]
nor will the powers of evil launched against you.
7 Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed,
you will remain unscathed and unharmed.
8 you will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment,
for they will be paid back for what they have done!
9–10 When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High,
our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm.
How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?
11 God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go,
defending you from all harm.
12 If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you
and keep you from stumbling.
13 You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness,[h]
trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
14 For here is what the Lord has spoken to me:
“Because you have delighted in me as my great lover,
I will greatly protect you.
I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face.
15 I will answer your cry for help every time you pray,
and you will find and feel my presence
even in your time of pressure and trouble.
I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast.
16 You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you.
For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 91:1 Or “O, you who sits enthroned.” The Hebrew word yashab is often associated with one seated as royalty. It is translated in Ezek. 27:8 as “leaders or rulers.”
b. Psalm 91:1 Shaddai (šadday) is taken from a Hebrew root word with many expressive meanings. It can mean “God of the Mountain, God the Destroyer of Enemies, God the Self-Sufficient One, God the Nurturer of Babies, God the Almighty.”
c. Psalm 91:1 Or “I endure through the night.” See Job 39:28, where the same Hebrew word is used for an eagle passing the night on the high cliffs.
d. Psalm 91:3 Or “hunter.”
e. Psalm 91:3 As translated from the most ancient Hebrew manuscripts and the Septuagint. The Hebrew word can mean “poisoned arrows.”
f. Psalm 91:4 Or “wings.” Also found in the next sentence, “under his wings,” which speaks not of God having wings, but of the wings of the cherubim resting on the mercy seat. The implication is that we can always come to the mercy seat and rest without fear.
g. Psalm 91:6 Verses 5–6 are seen by many Jewish scholars as a reference not merely to pestilence and natural dangers but to the realm of spiritual darkness that would come against God’s servants. These spirits are equated to “arrows that fly in daytime” or “a pestilence that walks” in the darkness. God’s sheltered ones are kept from the harm that could come from natural sources or supernatural sources. What a wonderful place to hide and be secure!
h. Psalm 91:13 The Hebrew includes the words for “lions,” “snakes,” and “dragons” (Heb. basilisk) as the three great symbols of satanic power.
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