Psalm 34:8 (NKJV): Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
The word 'good' in this verse is 'towb' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'beautiful, bountiful, cheerful, wellness (health), favor, kindness, grace, prosperity, wealth, welfare, pleasure, sweetness'. As you can see, this word 'towb' speaks of God's goodness for you in the widest sense! In other words, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good to you in the widest sense!'
Psalm 34:9-10 follows: 'Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing'. The word 'good' here is also translated as 'towb' in Hebrew. So, in other words, those who seek the Lord shall not lack any of God's goodness ('towb') in the widest sense. Hallelujah!
Note: 'To fear Him' in this context is 'to have a deep reverence and respect for Him, knowing that He is the One Great, 'All-possible', and Almighty God who loves and cares for you'. As a child of God, you can therefore put all your trust in Him when you look to Him and seek Him.
Let's go on a little further. Psalm 34:11-12 then says, 'Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?' Again, this word 'good' is also the same word 'towb'. You know what? Those who seek Him, listen to Him (as the sheep listens to the Shepherd's voice - John 10:27), and desire 'life' (He is the way, the truth, and the life) shall see His goodness ('towb') in the widest sense. In cross-reference, Psalm 91:16 says, 'With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation'.
Let's now move on to Psalm 23:1. It says, 'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want'. While the young lions may still lack and suffer hunger (Psalm 34:10), those who look to Him and trust Him (as sheep to the Shepherd) 'shall not want', and of course, 'shall not be found wanting'!
As you look to Him as your Shepherd (YHWH Raah), Psalm 23 then ends with this promise: 'Surely goodness ('towb') and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life; and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever' (see Psalm 23:6). Amazingly, the word 'follow' here in Hebrew actually means 'to run after, to chase, to pursue, or to hunt after'! So, I can paraphrase Psalm 23:6 this way: 'Surely His goodness ('towb') and mercy shall run after you, chase you, pursue you, and hunt after you all the days of your life'!
Just study the life of David and you'll see the evidence. Even at some of his lowest ebbs of his life, God's goodness still never failed to 'hunt after' him (wherever he escaped to) in spite of whatever Saul tried to do to him. From his very hiding in the Adullam cave (1 Samuel 22:1), he then raised up an army among the distressed, those who were in debt, and the bitter of soul (1 Samuel 22:2-5), and eventually went on to become the King of Judah! Note: 'Cave' here speaks of 'a refuge that was not to be, out in the cold', whereas 'Judah' speaks of 'celebration, praises, worship'.
People of God, whatever your situation may be at the moment, like David, you too are not meant to be in the 'cave' for long, but you are meant to be in 'the land of Judah'!
Elsewhere in the Bible, the same word 'towb' is also mentioned in Exodus 33:18-19. Here, Moses said to the Lord, "Please, show me Your glory." The Lord then answered, "I will make all My goodness ('towb') pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you." Notice the word 'all' here?
Do you see it clearer now? Indeed, God is good to you in the widest sense! And not just that, His goodness ('towb') also goes before you (Exodus 33:19) and after you (Psalm 23:6). Hallelujah!
"But, pastor, this is too good to be true! You are just preaching a 'feel-good' message that sounds pleasing to the ear!" No, I'm just preaching the unadulterated Word of God, as it is.
People of God, God's goodness begins with you seeking Him and trusting in Him, instead of men or organizations. In turbulent, uncertain, and changing times like this, believe that you can still 'taste and see' that the Lord is good to you (in the widest sense), because the truth is your God hasn't changed, and His Word for you hasn't changed either. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
So, let's take Him at His Word, and as it is, no matter what you see happening in the world today. Blessed are you indeed, because Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." Believing, you'll have it. Amen!
