Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
While teaching in Uganda, I stayed at a local pastor's house. The first morning, I sat with the family for breakfast. The server asked me, "Pastor, how many mangos would you like?" Sadly, I'm not much of a fruit fan, so I said, "None for me, thank you!" Everyone at the table looked at me in disbelief. Pastor Damba laughed out loud and said, "Sir, you must try some; they are fresh!" I agreed and watched him walk into his yard and pick several mangos from the tree.
The rest of the folks were still puzzled at me, the strange American who ate no fruit. A bowl of mangoes was prepared and placed before me when breakfast arrived at the table. I didn't want to be rude, so I took a deep breath and ate. It was just a mango, but I was sure it would be terrible. I was wrong. It was delicious, sweet, and perfectly ripe. The enjoyment was seen on my face as the whole family laughed and teased me about my misgivings.
Taste is a fantastic thing. How our brain interprets what we eat is very complex. We only experience four types of taste: bitter, sour, salty, and sweet. Many claim that Umami is a fifth taste, although experts are divided on it. Umami is the Japanese word for savory or delicious. This flavor, in particular, is said to elicit an emotional response. They are on to something because we all know the power of "comfort food." When we taste food, we immediately decide if it is good or bad. We want our food to taste good, but it's optional for survival.
After I had major surgery on my sinuses, I completely lost my sense of taste for six months. I didn't stop eating, but it was not pleasant. I believe taste is one of those gracious gifts God gives us to make life more enjoyable. Without taste, meals would be bland, uninteresting chores we'd do out of necessity. There would be no need for chefs, restaurants, or even "good cooks." We would just pull out a jar of protein paste and go on with our lives. It would not matter if we ate mangos or meat puree.
Taste changes everything.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
When it comes to our food, many people decide they don't like something without trying it. They see it as a risk and fear an unpleasant experience. We see, smell, touch, and watch others' reactions to it, but we will only fully enjoy even the most exquisite delicacies once we venture to taste it. To taste something for the first time is to take a risk. It is a decision we make to experience the unknown. Sorry for the mixed metaphor, but the psalmist encourages us to "dive in" to experience God at a new, deeper level.
Tasting is a close, personal, and trusting experience. To taste and see God means we make ourselves vulnerable and trust him, perhaps at a depth we have never ventured. He desires to show us "up close and personal" who he is and how good he is. God is not a distant God. He is to be known, loved, and experienced, but we cannot do that at a distance. Jeremiah 23:23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off?
Are you near enough to the Lord to taste the umami? Have you savored his grace and goodness? Do you know him so that his nearness elicits an emotional response from your heart of hearts?
When the Lord feels far away, call upon him to draw you near, comfort you, and help you taste (experience and enjoy) the goodness of your Lord and Savior.
blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
God's goodness extends to his protection and provision. When we feel distant from him, we need his refuge, comfort, assurance, and safety. We are not weak or immature when we take refuge in him; we are wise and blessed. Stand near him under his loving shelter, near enough to be close and personal, near enough to taste the goodness of God, always.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 119:151 You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth.
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Meditation Point
1. In what ways have you tasted the goodness of God?
Like you, I've experienced the joys of freshly-picked mangoes in Uganda, and there's nothing in this hemisphere like them! I know that wasn't the point of your post, but the memory of that taste remains strong even 20+ years later.