An interesting story and an awesome Psalm

Psalm 34:8 says, "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psa 34:8)

Do you trust in the Lord, even in the hardest of circumstances? Do you say, "Isn't God good?" even in the hardest of circumstances?

There is an interesting story behind this Psalm. Israel's first king, Saul, felt that David was a threat to his throne, and was trying to kill David. David fled for his life to the Philistine stronghold of Gath where he thought he would be safe from Saul. Unfortunately the Philistines recognized David and he became exceedingly afraid when he found out the servants of King Achish told him, "Isn't this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in the dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?" (1 Samuel 21:10f.)

David was sometimes very brave, but he was also sometimes very scared. David pretended he was insane to avoid being put to death by the Philistines, and escaped to a fortified cave where people on the run hung out.

And yet in the midst of his bleak looking future and his fear he wrote this mighty Psalm.

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 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. 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? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. (Psa 34:1-22)

Is God good, or what?
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.