Scripture: "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him," Psalm 34:8.
In verse 6, the Psalmist gives his testimony. How gloriously simple is God's way of salvation -- A CALL. As he testifies of God's goodness, the Psalmist considers others and pleads with them earnestly in verse 8. It presents a picture and and an explanation! It is our text.
I. WE CAN NEVER HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST UNTIL WE TASTE HIM
1. Most people have a religion which is very superficial. Many take the name of Christ upon their lips but they have never tasted of Him. "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men," Isaiah 29:13.
2. Just as our knowledge of food is limited until we put it in our mouths so we can never know the sweetness of Christ until we receive Him into our hearts. Taste buds tell us what food is like. The taste buds of our heart alone can tell us the sweetness of Jesus. "As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste," Song/Solomon 2:3. Many reject Christ yet have no knowledge of how sweet He is.
3. Christ is set forth in the gospel for sinners to taste. Isaiah 55:1-2, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." The gospel sermon is like a sample's counter displaying Christ and inviting sinners taste to freely taste.
II. THOSE WHO TASTE CHRIST DISCOVER HIM TO BE GOOD
Here is the reason for tasting.
1. You can never know the goodness of God until you taste Christ. Queen of Sheba, "And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard," I Kings 10:6-7.
2. Christ is the receptacle which contains all the goodness of God. "All spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ," Eph 1:3.
"Redemption that is in Christ Jesus," Rom 3:24. "The love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord," Rom 8:39. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ," II Cor 2:14. "Our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus," Gal 2:4.
3. As the food tasted is assimilated into our bodies so by tasting Christ we spiritual assimilate Him. We become one with Christ by receiving Him by faith. Read John 6:51-57.
III. AS THE FOOD WE EAT SCENTS OUR BREATH SO CHRIST PERFUMES THE SPIRIT
OF THOSE WHO TASTE HIM
"Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man," Matt 15:18-20. Man's sinful nature is breathed out daily in his actions and words. The stench of sin is everywhere. When Christ is received He cleanses, purifies, purges and perfumes the life.
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ," 2 Cor 2:14-15.
IV. OPPORTUNITIES FOR TASTING CHRIST SOON GO BY
The old man Barzillai, "I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?" II Sam 19:35. Now is the time for tasting. Eccles. 12:1, 5.