The Lord is Good

I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him  and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:4-8 ESV)

The Psalmist encourages us to do three things which are a response to us having a heart of praise and thanksgiving. As we see the goodness of the Lord our hearts are drawn into praise where we just want to tell God how good he is. Praise and thanksgiving, though, take us on a journey which is one of desire and longing. We want to know him more. 

And so we are encouraged to seek, look and taste. Our Father wants to be found by us, he is not hidden away, he is waiting for us to find him and as we do we are set free from our fears. In finding him, we find a safe and secure place where we are set free from the fear that has paralysed us. The world is fall of uncertainty and anxiety and, if we succumb to that, we are easily bogged down in the ways of the world and the uncertainty that brings. His presence is the most safe place we can find and it's there that worry and anxiety fall away. 

As we look to him as the source of life and the provider of all our needs we leave our shame behind and our faces begin to shine with his glory. That's a transformation! Very often, through the lies of the enemy, the troubles we face take us into a pit of shame. We believe more in our failings than who we are in Christ. Seeking him turns that all around. 

Finally, we are encouraged to taste and see that God is good. Our Father is always good. Leonard Hays, a good friend of mine, recently said 'we know God is good, but is he good to me?' Life may not be easy and we may have our doubts but Father is always good; yes, even good to you! He longs to shower his blessings upon his children. Verse 10 says "those who seek the Lord lack no good thing".