BLACKBERRIES

Blackberries ripen, full and sweet,
to make for me an August treat.
Their goodness calls me, “Come and dine!”,
so up I climb to make them mine.
 
Safe underneath the ash and beech,
the berries grow within my reach.
I pluck them quickly for my pail
and eat my fill along the trail.
 
Blackberries splendid, good and free,
are like the graces given me.
God’s fruit is for the picking ones,
and with it, love and mercy comes.

 

O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalm 34:8

 

 

BLACKBERRIES

Picking blackberries up behind our woods can be therapeutic on an August evening. Frozen away, they will make nice additions to an oven-baked cobbler during winter, and they will remind us of summer.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. 

We can trust God.

We can trust His words in the Bible.

We can know He is a Rewarder to those who trust Him.

Those who seek God have a better result in finding Him. Seek and find. Taste and see. Ask and receive. Pray and be heard.

I sought the LORD, and he heard me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4

David sought and found. Psalm 34, written by the psalmist David, begins with praising the LORD. Our Creator wishes for us to draw near to Him. Praying praise focuses our attention on God who can deliver us from our problems.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Psalm 34:5-7

How do we not know an angel stands nearby? How do we not know deliverance might be right around the corner? Who wouldn’t want to taste and see? We are God's creation, made in His image with eyes, ears, nose and taste buds. He wants us to experience His presence in our lives and how He can deliver us from troubles.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Psalm 34:10

When David tended his father’s sheep, he knew about fierce predators. Like David, seek God in prayer. We rely on God’s attentive ear to hear our joys for what He is doing for us and for what we choose not to be complacent about. Then, trust God’s timing, which is easier said than done.

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalm 34: 12-16    (and 1 Peter 3: 10-12)

Ask God where the good road is and then walk in it. Pick the good practice and stick to it. Commit to prayer. Pick the best blackberry and then drop it in the container! Jesus Christ said to follow Him. If we’re used to going our own way, it will be difficult to follow. Thankfully, our Savior is patient with us. And every morning is another opportunity to live the victorious life. His mercies are new every morning!

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;
and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous:
but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 34:18-19

Band aids for scratches from berry briars can be purchased at the local drug store, but there isn’t anything there for a broken heart. God heals the broken-hearted. Jesus saves the one with a contrite spirit. Even with all the thickets we have to crawl through, the Holy Spirit is there to guide us. God is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Through thick and thin, keep living for the reward He gives.

Psalm 34 ends with a promise:

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants:

and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 34:22

Our Redeemer redeems.

Our Rewarder rewards.

Our Creator creates.

For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

Zechariah 9:17

Taste and see. God’s fruit is for the picking ones! And there is a warm-baked cobbler ready to be enjoyed in the gathering of His goodness.