January 29

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. - Psalms 34:8

THE best way of knowing the goodness of God is by tasting it. Here David does not say, Read and see! hear and see! but “Taste and see that the Lord is good;” that is, apply it, make trial of it, and prove it for yourselves. The man of God here refers to experience. Experience means knowledge derived from experiment and trial in contradistinction to mere opinion, speculation, and conjecture. Experimental philosophy is universally commended, and properly speaking no other philosophy is appreciated. So what the Scriptures speak of with regard to faith, knowledge, repentance, humility, love, peace, and joy, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, may be reduced to experiment and trial in the same way; and there are numbers, blessed be God, who have not only read and heard, but have also “tasted that the Lord is gracious,” who know the Lord is good by their own experience, and can say, I know it, for I have realised it-I have enjoyed it.

There are three advantages which result from this tasting or from this experimental knowledge. The first is an increased desire after it. This is natural and unavoidable, “As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby, if so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

Secondly, It will produce a fuller conviction of its truth and importance. A poor unlettered man may be trusted in the presence of the most subtle philosopher who would endeavour to persuade him that honey was sour, and that gall was sweet. He would say, You may reason and ridicule but you will never convince me; I know that honey is sweet and that gall is bitter, for I have tasted them. So is it with the real Christian; “he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.”

Thirdly, it will produce fervency and earnestness in speaking of these things and in recommending them to others. Such an one knows the value and efficacy of the medicine he recommends, he has tried it himself and has been cured by it; and the Christian knows what peace flows from a sense of pardoning love-that it is good to draw near to God -he knows there is a “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” And with the Apostle John they will thus bear testimony: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.” And shall not we also say,

“Now will I tell to sinners round,

What a dear Saviour I have found,

I’ll point to his redeeming blood,

And say, Behold the way to God!”