BLACKBERRIES

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Can you trust these words in the Bible?

Have you ever known God to be a liar?

Today's poem is based on Psalm 34, written by David and breathed by God:

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

Prayer can be like tasting and seeing that the LORD is good. Did you know that prayer requires belief? If you don’t believe, how can you really taste and see? Blessed, or happy, is the person who takes refuge, or believes.

 

When he had gone indoors,

the blind men came to him,

and he asked them,

"Do you believe

that I am able to do this?"

"Yes, Lord," they replied.

Matthew 9:28

Because the blind men believed, they were healed by Jesus, the Son of God. David believed in the Father who would send His Son, Jesus Christ, the High Priest, who would make the one and only sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. No longer would priests need to make offerings as they did in David’s day.

Psalm 34 begins with extolling the LORD at all times, or having enthusiastic praise. Prayer focuses our attention on God who can deliver us from our problems. David continues in Psalm 34:

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;

He delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4

Isn't it great to know God answers prayer? That’s how we can get through life. David knew this. Those that seek God in prayer find Him. Seek and ye shall find. Taste and see. Live and live more abundantly. Our choice can bear reward. The Creator wishes to draw us to Himself. We are His creation, made in His image with eyes, ears and taste buds. Use them.

Those who look to him are radiant.

Psalm 34:5 

Keep your eyes on the LORD and you will shine. Taste and see for yourself. Pray believing and you will be heard, like David, by the Living God who created this universe. See if it's true.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:10

David must have known about lions when he tended his father’s sheep. But, he is telling us that he sought the LORD. Be a seeker like David. Seek God in prayer for help with hardships, for your hurts and things that disturb you. My list of disturbances grows long. So, rely on God like David did. Know that God’s ear is attentive to our cry.
 
Many times, verses in the Old Testament are repeated in the New Testament. Verses 12-16 of Psalm 34 are repeated in 1 Peter 3:10-12:

Whoever of you loves life 

and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.

Psalm 34: 12-16 and 1 Peter 3: 10-12 

Ask where the good road is and then walk in it. Pick the good practice and stick to it. God does not miss those who practice prayer. He is attentive to the persistent prayer warrior. Trust God in His timing for the problems that encircle you. Stay positive in prayer even though negativity might be around you.

A righteous man may have many troubles,

but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Psalm 34:19

None of us are immune to difficulties. But a person who trusts in Christ has a peace the world cannot offer. Trust Him in prayer to deliver as God, the Father, is our Deliverer. He can make what is wrong right. He can make it better, even if it doesn’t look very good at the moment. Believe He is working on your persistent prayer request.

I encourage you to read all of Psalm 34 for yourself!
This great Psalm ends with God’s promise:

The LORD redeems his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

    Psalm 34:22

Yes, you can trust the Bible. No, I have never known God to be a liar. (He cannot lie.) 

Taste and see. God’s fruit is for the picking ones.
Get to picking, like David. Get to praying for JOY!