CELEBRATING GOD'S GOODNESS

March 16,2025

81st CHURCH ANIVERSARY

THEME: CELEBRATING GOD’S GOODNESS

Psalm 34:8-10

How many of us love the taste of a good meal?  Whether it’s a warm, home-cooked meal or a delicious dessert, tasting something good can bring joy to our hearts.  But have you ever considered that God invites us to taste and see His goodness?

In Psalm 34:8, David extends an invitation not just to observe, but to experience the goodness of the Lord for ourselves.

Today, Gospel Tabernacle is celebrating the 81st Church Anniversary.  We are going to explore what it means to taste and see that the Lord is good.  We’ll discover that God’s Goodness is not something distant or unreal, but something real and personal, something we can experience in our everyday lives.  We are going to celebrate God’s goodness upon Gospel Tabernacle for 81 years! 

I.                   GOD’S GOODNESS OFFERS EXPERIENCE v. 8a

Let’s begin with our key verse, Psalm 34:8a (NKJV): “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good:”

David uses two sensory words here: taste and see.  These are personal experiences.  This is not just about knowing with our minds that God is good, but about experiencing His goodness with every fiber of our being.  The Hebrew word for “taste” is ta’am, which refers to perceiving or testing something by experience.  God invites us to come close, to experience His goodness, savor the richness of His love and grace.

David wrote this Psalm after being delivered from a dangerous situation.  He had pretended to be insane before King Achish to escape with his life.  David isn’t writing as someone who knows God’s goodness only theoretically – he had experienced God’s goodness in the midst of fear and desperation.  This Psalm is his response of gratitude and praise.

David isn’t inviting us to a one-time taste; the invitation is to continually experience God’s goodness in our lives.  He is saying: Don’t just know God, experience Him for yourself.  This is an invitation to have intimacy with God.

Think about a person who’s never tasted honey before.  You can describe its sweetness and texture, but until they actually taste it, they won’t truly understand how good it is.  The same is true with God.  you can hear about His goodness, but until you seek Him for yourself, you won’t fully grasp how good He truly is.

To celebrate God’s goodness for 81 years, we have three movements to look at:

1.     God’s Goodness Offers Experience

II.                 GOD’S GOODNESS OFFERS EVIDENCE v. 9-10

The “fear” in verse 9, mentioned here is not about being afraid of God but having a reverence and awe for Him.  To “fear the Lord” means to honor and respect Him, to submit to His authority in our lives.  When we live in this kind of relationship with God, we will experience His provision.  In verse 10, David contrasts God’s faithful provision with the hunger of “strong young lions” – even the powerful can lack, but those who trust in God will never lack what they truly need.

The Hebrew word for “lack” here is chaser, which means to be in need or want.  David is reminding us that God knows our needs and supplies them in His perfect timing and way.

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV), “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  GTB, are we seeking Him first, knowing that He is faithful to meet our needs?  God’s goodness offers evidence in His provision and protection.

To celebrate God’s goodness for 81 years, we have three movements to look at:

1.     God’s Goodness Offers Experience v. 8a

2.     God’s Goodness Offers Evidence v. 9-10

III.               GOD’S GOODNESS OFFERS REFUGE AND JOY v. 8b

The latter part of Psalm 34:8 (NLT) says, “Oh, the joys of those who trust in him?”  another way of saying it, oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” 

The word “refuge” in Hebrew is chasah, which means to seek shelter or protection.  David is speaking from personal experience---he had found safety and protection in the Lord during times of trouble.  When we take refuge in God, we not only find safety but also experience deep and lasting joy.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT): “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” 

If we wish to taste the goodness of God for ourselves, we must trust Him.  We must fear and seek Him.  Trusting or taking refuge in Him points to the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Celebrating God’s Goodness for 81 years.  Psalm 34:8a (NKJV) “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;” To celebrate God’s goodness for 81 years, we have three movements to look at:

1.     God’s Goodness Offers Experience v. 8a

2.     God’s Goodness Offers Evidence v. 9-10

3.     God’s Goodness Offers Refuge and Joy v. 8

 Responsive Reading: Psalm 34: 1-8