Psalm 34:8

Psalm 34: 8

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 

a. ASV: Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.

b. YLT: Taste ye and see that Jehovah is good, O the happiness of the man who trusteth in Him.

c. Amplified Bible Classic: O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.

d. Septuagint [Psalm 34:8 in our Bible is Psalm 33:9 in the Septuagint]: Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who hopes in him. 

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings [Psalm 34:8 in our Bible is Psalm 34:9 in Jewish Bibles]:  Contemplate and see that HASHEM is good; praiseworthy is the man who takes refuge in Him.

1. “O taste and see that the LORD is good…”

a. [O] taste [Strong: 2938 ṭâʻam, taw-am'; a primitive root; to taste; figuratively, to perceive:—× but, perceive, taste.]

b. [and] see [Strong: 7200 râʼâh, raw-aw'; a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):—advise self, appear, approve, behold, × certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, × indeed, × joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, × be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), × sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, × surely, × think, view, visions.]

c. that [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

d. [the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.]

e.  [is] good [Strong: 2896 ṭôwb, tobe; from H2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, × fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, ×most, pleasant, pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).]

1). Here when the Scripture exhorts us to “taste” He is referring to the spiritual sense of taste. We are three part beings (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We are spirits, we have souls and we live in a body. As spirit beings we have spiritual senses. Jesus said in Mark 4:23  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Jesus was not referring to our natural ears but our spiritual sense of hearing. Likewise here when the Scripture exhorts us to “taste and see that the LORD is good” it is referring to the spiritual sense. As we go on, let’s let Scripture interpret itself. Let’s look at Isaiah 55.

a). Isaiah 55:1, 2 HO, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

(1) Notice what the Scripture says, “Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good”. Saints, walking in obedience to the word of God is how we eat or partake of the Word.

2). Another example is found in 1 Peter. In 1 Peter 2:1   

a). 1 Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

(1) Peter exhorts us to get rid of examples of carnality in our lives. Then he says for us to desire, seek the milk of the word. He goes on the say “if so be” or if you have done that then you will have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Saints, if we walk in obedience to the word and resist walking in the flesh we will sense in our innermost being, in our spirits…”Oh, God is so gracious, he is so good.”

b). Just as newborns cannot eat solid food, newborn Christians should concentrate in their own personal study on the milk of the word. Just as Peter in verse one exhorted us to cast off carnal behavior, the milk of the word addresses primarily getting the flesh out of our lives. In his first epistle to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul spoke to this very thing. Walking in the flesh will hinder us from receiving the deeper things of the word of God.

(1) 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

3). The last example is a contrast between spiritual babies and spiritual men and women. I think the Classic Amplified says it best.

a). Hebrews 5:11-14 Concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight].

5:12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

5:13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!

5:14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

2. “...blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

a. blessed [Strong: 835 ʼesher, eh'-sher; from H833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!:—blessed, happy.]

b. [is the] man [Strong: 1397 geber, gheh'-ber; from H1396; properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply:—every one, man, × mighty.]

c. [that] trusteth [in him] [Strong: 2620  châçâh, khaw-saw'; a primitive root; (compare H982) to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in:—have hope, make refuge, (put) trust.]

1). Now with all that being said, the psalmist says “blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Saints, when a believer’s spiritual senses are sharp and sensitive from walking in faithful obedience to the word of God, his or her actions demonstrate trust. They trust God so much they are willing to obey his word. And because of that they are blessed.